Lagos – Some swimming fans on Wednesday say they are excited with the pace of rehabilitation going on at the swimming pool at the National Stadium in Lagos.
Some of the pool users told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalong and the contractor handling the project should be commended.
NAN reports that the contractor handling the rehabilitation is Jonac Engineering Company Ltd.
The pool which was abandoned for over a decade was approved for rehabilitation in 2013, but was abandoned shortly after the work commenced until the first week of January when the minister’s visited.
Dalong, during his inspection of the facilities at the stadium, expressed dissatisfaction at the state of the swimming pool.
He told the contactor to complete the work by the end of the first quarter of the year.
A follow up visit to the facility by NAN shows a beehive of activities on various section of the pool.
The main pool and the diving section had been cleaned up and retiling begun in line with FINA and Nigeria Swimming Federation standards.
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The water filtering machine which had been vandalised is also undergoing repairs.
Four boreholes have been sunk as a measure to ensure supply of water to the pool.
Some of the stakeholders attributed the speed of work to the no-nonsense attitude of the sports minister in demonstrating his commitment to rehabilitation of the pool.
A swimmer, Segun Aluko, said that he was excited with the level of work at the pool.
“Many had thought that the resumption of work was only a surface move.
“But we are pleasantly surprised that the rehabilitation has intensified giving assurance that the ministerial deadline for completion would be met,’’ he said.
A journalist, Uche Okoli, said that completion of the pool would provide enhanced platform for national swimmers and rekindle the interest of youths in the sport.
“When the pool is ready for use, it will enable regular competitions and sponsorship for the sport; it will also provide for public recreation,’’ he said.
Okoli, however, expressed concern about the management of the pool with regard to its maintenance after the rehabilitation. (NAN)
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