Anambra To Spend N1bn On Sports In 2021
Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra has earmarked the sum of N995 million for capital and recurrent projects in the sports sector during the 2021 fiscal year against 2020 which was N1.165 billion but was later revised to N485 million.
This was contained in the budget estimate Awka Township Stadium would gulp N400 million while construction of zonal sports stadium Otuocha, Ekwulobia and Idemili N100 million.
Formation of state owned male and female football clubs is expected to take a chunk of N150 million from the outlay while development of community playground and school sports would get N100 million and N60 million respectively.
Other projects and their estimated values were sports equipment N30 million, national sports festival N35 million and Walk for Life N30 million. N20 million would be spent on capacity building for sports activities while N20 million would go to Grants to sports bodies and associations.
Others were sports competitions for local government, schools and town union N20 million, furniture and equipment N10 million, sports subvention across the state N15 million and Planning Research Statistics N5million
Speaking to sports writers, Tony Oli, chairman of Anambra Sports Development Commission(ASDC) said one of the projects, Awka township stadium would be delivered before the end of December.
Oli said the pitch, grandstand, tartan track and every necessary facilities would be put in place while next year, expansion works would continue to build facility for others games including indoor games.
He said the target was to build zonal game centres in Otuocha, Ekwulobia and Ogidi to take care of the sporting facility needs of the people in the area.
“Awka township stadium was in the budget last year and it is there again this year, the appearance this year is for the completion of the project. Work is going on steadily and I am always there to inspect the progress of the project.
“His Excellency has mandated during one of his visit that the project be delivered this year, we are working towards that and I want to assure that inaugural football match will be played there on Dec. 28.
“Ekwulobia has been awarded and Otuocha has taken off. We are trying to stop the encroachment going on at the proposed land for Ogidi stadium project so that, that one can effectively take off,” he said.
Oli said the state male and females football teams would no longer be for competitions but for national leagues with independent management team and official grant.
The Commission Chairman scored Anambra high in sports activities but rued the impact of COVID-19 which affected sports calendar negatively.
A total of N143. 65billion was proposed by the governor for 2021 fiscal year in Anambra.
