29th September, 2010
The Director General of National Sports Commission, Patrick Ekeji has insisted that it is mandatory for athletes to pay the sum of N100 before they can use the facilities at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
Ekeji disclosed that athletes all over the world pay a certain amount of money before they use the stadium facilities for training.
He stated that there is nothing wrong if Nigerian athletes are to pay a fee for using sporting facilities, adding that their money will be used to maintain the facilities at the Sports city.
“There is no going back on our decision. We are not exploiting our athletes. What we are saying is that we need to maintain the facilities at the stadium and generate internal revenue for the government. This case is not particular to Nigeria alone, as countries all over the world do the same thing. I think our athletes and the public have to understand the situation of thin,†he said.
—Sunday Akintoye