Lagos to unveil eight new stadia

The Lagos State Government will open eight new stadia next year May in different parts of the state boost sports at the grassroots.

The Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Toyin Gafar, made this known at the weekend.

Gafar also noted that work has reached advanced stage in five of the eight new stadia while construction work will start in the remaining three very soon.

Work has started in the facility at Igogbo, Ikorodu, Badagry, Ifako Ijaye Sports centre, Ajeromi Stadium, Ajegunle and Epe while the proposed sites to be used in Mile 12, Sari, Igando and Ogombo and Lekki will also be attended to in the next few weeks.

Gafar said: “The target in each of the stadia is 5,000 capacity but we start gradually with 1,200 and leave room for regular upgrading of the stadia depending on the responses of fans.

“There will be tracks at each of the stadia which are aimed for community use.

“We believe there will be improvement in youth participation in sports by the time we get these facilities running.”

The Lagos Sports Commission DG also revealed plans to have two Olympic size swimming pools in the state soonest.

Gafar said: “The one at Rowe Park, in Yaba, is 80 per cent completed, while that of Teslim Balogun Stadium will be given a facelift to conform with others in many parts of the world.

“We are doing al these to create an enabling environment to for coaches all over the state to groom talents from the very tender age without much logistics on facilities.”