On Wednesday, the Senate summoned Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, over the vandalisation of Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, by hoodlums on March 29, after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
The upper chamber equally invited the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, and other agencies involved in maintaining the stadium.
The resolutions were sequel to the point of order raised by Michael Nnachi (PDP-Ebonyi) during the plenary.
The Senate also mandated its Committee on Sports and Youth Development to investigate the remote and immediate causes of the failure of the Eagles to qualify for the World Cup despite the numerous government support.
“A lot of valuable facilities at the stadium were destroyed, but the extent of the destruction is yet to be determined by the relevant government authority.
“There is no gainsaying that the destruction will cause the government of Nigeria several millions of naira to either replace or effect repairs.
“Apart from several unidentified football fans who were injured as a result of this incident, the death of Zambian CAF official Joseph Kabungo is a huge loss to the global football community.”
Supporting the motion, Senator Abba Moro (PDP-Benue) said it was a very sad day for Nigeria.
“It is sad that Nigerians vented their anger and frustration on the physical stadium.
“There is an urgent need for this Senate, if possible, to intervene to see that our stadia across Nigeria are properly structured and made in such a way that future occurrence or fans invading the pitch or destroying the stadium will be prevented,” he said.
(NAN)
