Commissioner Raises Alarm Over Deterioration of Sporting Facilities in Anambra

By Praise Chinecherem

The Anambra State Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Patrick Agha Mba, has expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of sports facilities across the state, blaming years of poor maintenance, neglect, and the looting of critical infrastructure for the decline.

The Commissioner raised the alarm during an extensive inspection tour of major stadia and sporting facilities across Anambra State, accompanied by senior officials of the ministry.

During the tour, Agha Mba observed that several facilities that were once designed to promote sports development and youth engagement had fallen into disrepair, while some had been subjected to misuse and encroachment.

According to him, the current state of many of the facilities poses a serious challenge to the government’s vision of using sports as a tool for youth empowerment, talent discovery, and community development.

“The situation we met in some of these facilities is unfortunate. Lack of maintenance and the looting of valuable infrastructure have contributed significantly to their deterioration,” he said.

Despite the challenges, the Commissioner assured that the state government was committed to revitalizing sports infrastructure and creating an enabling environment for grassroots sports development.

Public-Private-Community Partnership

Agha Mba disclosed that the government intends to drive sports development through a Public-Private-Community Partnership model, aimed at attracting investment, improving facility management, and ensuring sustainable maintenance of sporting infrastructure.

He called on stakeholders, corporate organizations, community leaders, and sports enthusiasts to collaborate with the government in repositioning sports as a catalyst for youth development and economic growth.

“We call on all stakeholders to join hands with the government to make sports in Anambra State not just a recreational activity, but a veritable platform for talent discovery and development,” he said.

The Commissioner also urged host communities to take ownership of sports facilities located within their areas by protecting them from vandalism and ensuring their proper utilization.

“Anambra State is blessed with abundant sporting talents. The surest way to discover and nurture these talents is through deliberate investment in grassroots sports development and the protection of our sporting infrastructure,” he added.

Inspection Tour Reveals Extent of Decay

The inspection covered several key sports facilities across the state, including the Otuocha Stadium in Anambra East Local Government Area, the Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium and Godwin Achebe Stadium in Onitsha, Ogidi Stadium, the newly constructed 2,000-capacity Ekwulobia Stadium, Country Club, and the Awka City Stadium.

At the Otuocha Stadium, the Commissioner and his team were received by the President General of Aguleri, Chike Nwabia, alongside the Local Government Sports Organising Secretary, Bridget Onyekwe, who conducted them around the facility and highlighted some of the challenges facing the stadium.

The inspection team later proceeded to the Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium and the Godwin Achebe Stadium in Onitsha, where officials led by Justina Okoli guided the Commissioner through the facilities and provided updates on their operational status.

However, it was the condition of the Ogidi Stadium that drew particular concern from the Commissioner.

Agha Mba expressed displeasure over what he described as the conversion of parts of the facility into a mechanic workshop for articulated vehicles, while other sections had allegedly become hideouts for suspected criminal elements.

He described the development as unacceptable and contrary to the purpose for which the facility was established.

The inspection tour concluded at the newly built 2,000-capacity Ekwulobia Stadium, Country Club, and the Awka City Stadium, where managers of the facilities took the Commissioner and his entourage around various sections of the complexes.

Commitment to Sports Infrastructure Renewal

The visit forms part of the ministry’s ongoing assessment of sports infrastructure across the state as the government seeks to identify areas requiring urgent intervention.

Observers believe the inspection could signal the beginning of renewed efforts to restore sporting facilities and strengthen grassroots sports development in Anambra.

With increasing calls for investment in youth engagement and talent development, stakeholders say the rehabilitation of sports infrastructure will be crucial in unlocking the state’s sporting potential and providing opportunities for young athletes to excel at local, national, and international levels.
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