Did Sports Minister, Sunday Dare Ask For 81 Million To Grow Grass On The Field?

Nigeria’s Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Sunday Dare, has denied reports that he says his ministry needs N81 million to clear and cultivate grass at the Abuja Stadium.

According to Daily Trust, the minister was speaking at a briefing organized by the Sports Writers Association in Abuja.

“We approached AEPB to come to see what can be done to clear the grass and weed in the stadium and they told us it will cost us N81m.” the minister was quoted as saying.

In the report, the minister said “If we tell Nigerians we used N81m which is not even available, there will be an outcry. The funds are not really there for us and that is why we are partnering with private investors to bring back the key components of our infrastructures,“.

In response, Mr Dare said he did not say so, saying his remarks had been misconstrued.

The Daily Trust report has drawn criticism on social media, with some comparing it to former Secretary to the Federal Government Babachir David Lawal, who was fired by Buhari for allegedly spending large sums of money to cut grass in internally displaced persons camps.

Spot the difference. This story is out of context. Misleading. A misrepresentation.The Ministry was given a bill. The Ministry did not accept. It will be detrimental to spend such an amount. And it can be better invested. That is what I said. This is not what they have reported. pic.twitter.com/k7PaA4HgBL

— Sunday Dare (@SundayDareSD) November 29, 2020