The Kwara State Government is set to renovate the indoor sports hall of the state stadium at the cost of N2.06bn to make it an ultra-modern sports facility.

The sports hall was constructed under the administration of Brigadier-General Agbazika Innih (retd.) in 1977.

Speaking with sports writers in Ilorin on Wednesday, the chairman of the state’s sports commission, Bola Magaji, said previous administrations in the state had neglected the indoor sports hall, adding that it led to its decadence.

Magaji, who said that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq was determined to bring the stadium back to its pride, added that the renovation of the indoor sports hall would be completed in 12 months.

“Due to lack of maintenance, reptiles were even attacking some of our athletes. However, the sports hall will be much better than before when fully renovated. There will be many innovations; it will become a centre of tourism because local and international tournaments will be held in there.

“There will be increase in sales among business outlets and offices in the stadium while hotels in the state capital and surroundings will get improved patronage because athletes will converge on the state anytime sports events are organised inside the hall.”

Magaji, added that the target of the state government in sports development was to take youths out of the streets and make them better citizens.

“The target is not aimed at financial gains or rewards really, but to make the youths shun drugs and hooliganism and be more useful to the state and themselves.”