Lagos govt awards N700m contract - To upgrade Teslim Balogun Stadium

Niyi Alebiosu, Lagos - 15.07.2008

Adebayor IN response to the directive of the world football-governing body, FIFA, to upgrade the Teslim Balogun Stadium to its standard, the Lagos State government has awarded a contract for the upgrading of the stadium, which a Government House source put at N700 million.

The FIFA inspection team led by its vice president, Jack Warner had said during its visit to the state few months back that for the stadium to host matches of next year's FIFA U-17 World Championship, billed for the country, it has to meet FIFA standard.

Tribunesports observed during a visit to the stadium last weekend that some construction workers were working on the pitch and other areas of the stadium but they declined to make any comments when contacted but a soiurce informed that they were working on the stadium ahead of the next FIFA inspection visit.
Tribunesports scooped that

the upgrading of the satdium to FIFA standard would cost N700million out of which N110 million will be used to lay astro-turf in the stadium.

Further investigation revealed that the construction company (name not disclosed) has been mandated to ensure the completion of the job right on time before FIFA inspection team's next visit in October, and that the government will not tolerate any form of delay.

Efforts to get the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele on phone proved abortive due to network problem, but a Tribunesports source very close to the seat of power confirmed the development and assured that the contract tor would not disappoint.