Nigerian Government Allocates Houses To More Ex-Super Eagles
The Federal Government of Nigeria have fulfilled the promise made by the then military government of General Sani Abacha of allocating houses to the victorious 1994 Super Eagles Team that won the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Tunisia.
In a ceremony, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, handed over the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) of three-bedroom Federal Government houses to each team member in Abuja.
The Federal Government had on March 7th said it was going to fulfil its promise to the team when it delivered 76 housing units to the Nasarawa State government. Fashola said it was an opportunity to remember the country’s heroes to whom the country made a promise of providing houses, which had remained unfulfilled.
“We arranged with members who were beneficiaries to choose where they will be allocated and we anticipated that it is possible we give you allocation letters,” Fashola said.
“We decided that we will be handing over at the commissioning site so that there are no more gaps to fill. We promised this and we will want to make sure that it does not delay any further.”
“So you heard that Emanuel Amuneke and others have been given their own during the commissioning and so now this is what we are planning for you. Some of you were absent during the commissioning.”
“So we invited you here to come and collect your certificates so that you will have your documents and your keys will be presented to you. The others in Uyo and a few other states will get their own as planned. The beneficiaries will get their titled documents and the keys at the sites,” Fashola said.
“We planned that this will be done in a conducive environment so that there will be no more loopholes. And indeed, we found out that the name of Finidi George was not included and we told Mr President and I’m sure that he will provide remedy for that.’’
Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai, said he felt demoralised and pained for the number of years that they had to be waiting and hoping that they would be given their houses.
“To be honest, it was not easy thinking about it. I thank President Muhammadu Buhari for taking the bold step in making sure that we get this promise made to us 28 years ago,” Rufai said.
“I also want to use this platform to show my appreciation to the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, for the effort he put into this to ensure that today we are here to receive these houses.”
“Again to our minister of works, we say a big thank you to you; as you all know, some of our colleagues are not present to see this happen and their loved ones have come here to collect on their behalf.”
“With this any other upcoming child, sport men or women in any department of sports, be it football or athletics now has hope that whenever I am selected to represent Nigeria, I will give all my best and be rewarded,” Rufai added.
“And I pray that this system continues so that we will see the beauty of our men and women, it doesn’t matter your field and we will also be happy with our leaders.’’
The Super Eagles players presented with CofOs are Peter Rufai, Stephen Edema, Isaac Semitoje, Sunday Oliseh, represented by his brother Albert Oliseh.
Others are Victor Ikpeba, Anthony Okeleke, Uche Okafor, represented by his daughter Tochukwu Okafor and Austin Eguavoen (NFF Technical Director).
Chidi Nwoke/Premium Times.
