NOC unveils Olympafrica Centre, Lagos sports estate News

The Nigeria Olympic Committee on Wednesday commissioned the Olympafrica Centre in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, and broke ground on the Olympic Estate, a residential development project that will sit on the same 6.7-hectare plot allocated to the NOC by the Lagos State Government in 1990, The PUNCH reports.

The commissioning, performed by National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko, marked the formal opening of a facility that has for years served the youth of Amuwo Odofin informally, while the ground-breaking ceremony signalled the start of a project that successive NOC administrations had pursued without success for nearly four decades.

Facilities commissioned on the day included a renovated cultural centre, a multi-purpose plateau, a covered spectators’ pavilion, new changing rooms and conveniences, a security outpost and a borehole with overhead tanks. Work is ongoing on the reconstruction of the football pitch and an eight-lane athletics track.

NOC President Habu Gumel said the land had been under the committee’s stewardship since it was granted by the Lagos State Government, but that environmental and funding challenges had long delayed its full development.

“Over the last few decades, successive NOC administrations have not been able to engage reliable developers to develop the land. Despite environmental and funding challenges, this centre has always been available for the use of the teeming youthful population of Amuwo Odofin,” he said.

Gumel explained that the NOC had divided the plot into two portions, with 40 per cent dedicated to sports through the Olympafrica Centre and the remaining 60 per cent set aside for the Olympic Estate, a build-and-sell residential development with sports facilities integrated within it.

The estate, being developed by Numero Homes Global Resources Limited and Ampharco Estates Nigeria Limited under a tripartite agreement with the NOC, will include a five-a-side football pitch, multi-purpose courts, a swimming pool, gym, games hall, events centre and race tracks, in addition to residential apartments comprising three-bedroom and four-bedroom maisonettes.

Managing Director of Numero Homes, Omowunmi Olalere, said construction would be completed within 24 months and described the project as a blend of lifestyle and infrastructure.

“Even as it is in its current state, we still have children coming in on a daily basis to practise after school hours. It is very important to put the facility to judicious use by putting the necessary infrastructure in place,” she said.

Olalere added that certain blocks within the estate would be reserved for hostel accommodation to house athletes and visitors during sporting events, rather than being sold off entirely.

Gumel expressed particular gratitude to the Lagos State Government for maintaining the Certificate of Occupancy on the land for over three decades, and thanked the IOC, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa and the Olympafrica Foundation for their financial and technical support in bringing the centre to its current state.

NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade and ANOCA representatives were also present at the ceremony.