The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of the 2018 National Sports Festival (NSF) has assured that facilities for the 19th edition of the games will be ready before the opening ceremony billed for Abuja.
The LOC chairman, Gambo Ahmad, disclosed this in a statement by the media officer of the sports ministry, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, on Sunday.
He said following the release of funds by the Federal Government, renovation works on selected facilities have begun with the deadline of 5th, December, 2018 already set for contractors handling the projects.
Gambo, who doubles as the Director of Facilities in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, said priority has been placed on the athletics tracks, Indoor Sports Halls located at Package B of the National stadium and the open courts for basketball, handball and volleyball.
“The priority is on the running tracks for athletics, sports halls for the indoor games and outside court for volleyball, basketball and handball. These are the areas we are concentrating on.”
Since work started on Friday, Gambo said appreciable progress has been made and the committee is hopeful that the facilities will be ready before the opening ceremony on Thursday, December 6, 2018.
“Work has already started. We have already gotten the chemicals that we need to clean the tracks and then mend those bad patches. By Wednesday, the track should be ready for competition,” he added.
With the Area 10 Sports Arena already secured and in good shape following the collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory Sports Council, Gambo is optimistic that the organisers are on course to host the NSF.
For golf and aquatic sports, there is no course for alarm as the IBB Golf Course, Jabi Lake and Park are both ready for the games.
“We have made the IBB Golf Course ready in collaboration with the IBB Golf Club. The Jabi Lake and Park which is up to international standard as of today is ready for festival,” he stated.
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