Basketball

The Federal Government has ordered the immediate closure of the national stadia following a media statement issued by Media Office to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development. The statement which was released for the press reads:

“In an bid to curtail the spread the spread of the Coronavirus in the country, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development under the leadership of the Minister, Mr. Sunday Dare, has directed the temporary shutdown of all activities at four (4) National Stadia across the country”.

“The affected stadia are the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, Liberty Stadium, Ibadan and National Statdium, Surulere-Lagos. The facilities listed will not be available till further notice”. 

“While urging the general public to stay calm and safe by practising good personal hygiene and keeping social distance, the Ministry assures citizens that the Federal Government through the Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other relevant agencies are putting necessary measures in place to ensure the elimination  of the Pandemic in Nigeria”.

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus, the National Stadium in Surulere-Lagos, has continued to bubble with lots of social and sporting activities, despite calls by government at state and Federal level warning citizens to stay away from social gatherings.

It will also be recalled that the proposed Edo 2020 National Sports festival which was billed to take place from March 22 was also postponed by the Federal Government, as a preventive measure for curtailing the outbreak of the COVID-19.