Sports
Contractors Deliver Swimming Pool To FG
Swimmers in a competition
Contractors handling the
renovation of the swimming pool at the National Stadium, Lagos yesterday commended the commitment of Government toward ensuring that the pool was revived.
Idris Jamiu, Senior Engineer, Jonac Engineering Company, made the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.
The pool, which was built in 1972 to host the 2nd All Africa Games, had been out of use, since 1999 and was subsequently approved for rehabilitation by the then Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, in 2013.
The project, however, abandoned until January, when the incumbent Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalong, during an inspection of the stadium, ordered the completion of the project before the end of the first quarter of the year.
Jamiu said: “Government’s commitment and our will as a credible engineering company is responsible for this achievement.
“We were given a target to deliver the job before the end of the first quarter of the year; as you can see we achieved it.
“At the moment the lavatories are ready, the engines for pumping of water, installed to aid the supply and drainage in the diving and swimming sections are in perfect conditions.
“We have yet to mount the storage tanks at the left side of the facility but that will be done in a few days time,” he said
According to the engineer, the pool is ready for use and will be inaugurated in due course.
He said that the success of the project was made possible within a short duration because of government’s commitment at ensuring that the pool was upgraded to international standards.
Jamiu lauded the media for beaming their searchlight on the renovation of the pool, adding that doing this for other structures in the National Stadium would ensure revitalisation of sporting activities.
“If we have so much of checks on other sporting facilities like we had from the press during the entire process of renovation, it will give a boost to renovation of other facilities across the country,” he said.
Tidesports observed that the swimming pool and its diving section, the dressing rooms; lavatories, lighting, water filters and the underground water filling machines are ready for use.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.