The Guardian learnt that the giant floodlight located on the K Entrance of the stadium, close to the secretariat of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), came down following an early morning rain witnessed within the Lagos metropolis.
The incident triggered panic among athletes and other stadium users, though, there was no casualty.
About three weeks ago, The Guardian highlighted the pathetic situation at the National Stadium, with a cover story that triggered comments from concerned Nigerians from far and near.
The Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, thereafter came to Lagos to inspect the Stadium complex, and thereafter, addressed a press conference on some of the steps his ministry had taken to fix it.
Some athletes, who spoke with The Guardian, yesterday, after the collapse of the giant floodlight, expressed their concern over the government’s ‘slow approach’ to the rehabilitation of the edifice, which was once the best sporting facility in sub-Sahara Africa.
“It is a shame that the Federal Government allowed the National Stadium to rot away after hundreds of millions of naira spent on it,” one para athlete, who gave his name only as Adejumo, said.
Another athlete, a tennis player, who gave her name as Franca, said: “For over two years now, renovation work has been going on within this stadium. All the traders that were doing businesses in the stadium were chased away on the order of the sports ministry, yet the situation is deteriorating daily.
“I thank God that nobody was within the area when the giant floodlight came down this morning. What could have happened if those young skaters were around practicing in the area when the floodlight came down? It is high time the Federal Government took a different approach to fixing the National Stadium.”
An official of the National Stadium, who spoke with The Guardian, praised God for sparing the lives of athletes and other stadium users.
“I thank God that no casualty was recorded in this incident,” the official said.
Reacting to the incident, Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, described it as an act of nature, which is a consequence of over 19 years neglect.
Speaking through the Director, Press and Public Relations, Manga Mohammed, Dare said the ongoing repairs at the 51-year-old stadium do not cover floodlights and 16 other parts of the stadium that need urgent renovations after 19 years of neglect.
“Unfortunately, the collapse of the mast carrying the floodlights was due to heavy windstorm and rains. It is nature. We also learnt several structures across Lagos were also affected.
“The facilities department has secured and put out danger signs on the other three masts carrying the floodlights.
“Also, note for clarity and proper guidance that the ongoing repairs does not cover flood lights and 16 other parts of the stadium that need urgent renovations. What do you expect when a stadium that is 51 years old is left unmaintained for 19 years?
“When the Ministry said the stadium was old and needed money to fix it after 19 years, Nigerians reacted without considering the facts about the stadium. What do you expect when you leave a specialised structure for 19 years without maintenance?
“It is a 51-year-old structure for crying out loud. 19 years of neglect. That is what we are trying to correct, but people think other sectors and buildings need money but sports facilities do not need money. Every building suffers wear and tear so also a stadium.” he said.
The minister pointed at the amount of money other countries are spending to rehabilitate their facilities to illustrate his stance.
“Etihad Stadium for Manchester City Football Club, just this week, requested for $317 million to add 7,000 more seats (from 60,000 seats to 67,000 seats) and do maintenance. There is no magic here. It’s the reality,” he said.
