Sports minister: Why I relocated my office to Abuja stadium

John Enoh, the newly appointed minister of sports development, has revealed why he relocated his office to the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

Speaking on Thursday, the minister said the relocation will enable him to “keep a watchful eye” on the “90 percent of the departments of sports” inside the stadium.

He said his decision was informed by the tour of the stadium, which he undertook on his first day in office.

“I did a tour of MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, and I insisted that instead of having my office at the Secretariat, my office as Sports Development minister has to be at the stadium,” Enoh said.

“I have taken that decision already, I have an assignment to make the ministry work, and we have to make it work. MKO Abiola Stadium is where we have 90 percent of the departments of sports.

“The stadium is where we have all the federations’ secretariats, athletes and footballers. For the purpose of coordination and to keep a watchful eye, it is imperative that my office is at the stadium.”

The minister added that he had “issued a memo to the permanent secretary that the remaining sports departments should be at the stadium”.

Enoh said the sports ministry will extend sports development to “those places where there are fewer opportunities”.

“I want to see those talents from Ajegunle developed into elite sportsmen. I want to provide, like, a basketball court for those in the hinterland and others. A lot of times, the great boxers are not produced in the high brow areas but in the local environments,” he added.

“I want to provide these things and not just saying it, and at the end of my tenure, we want to count tangible things that have given us social inclusion, which will translate to sports development.”