The Anambra State Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, Mr Patrick-Agha Mba, has outlawed cash payments for rents on stadiums and other sports facilities across the state.
Mba announced the directive on Wednesday after leading officials of the ministry on an inspection tour of sports facilities in the state.
The facilities visited included Otuocha Stadium, Aguleri; Chuba Ikpeazu Stadium and Godwin Achebe Stadium in Onitsha; Idemili Stadium, Ogidi; Ekwulobia Stadium; and Awka Stadium.
The commissioner said the tour was aimed at assessing the condition of sports facilities.
The assessment would help with plans to upgrade them to standards required for the effective implementation of the state government’s grassroots sports development policy.
He said that all legitimate tenants operating within the facilities would henceforth pay their rents directly into the Anambra Government account through the Anambra Revenue Service.
“From now onward, all legal tenants at our stadia will no longer pay rents by cash.
“Yhey should now pay directly into the state government account through the Anambra Revenue Service.
“This new payment system is in line with the directive of the governor
“It also forms part of our effort to streamline revenue collection and improve the state’s Internally Generated Revenue profile,” he said.
Mba also directed owners of private structures located within stadium premises who lacked valid approval documents to remove them immediately or face appropriate sanctions.
According to him, the state government is committed to developing sports from the grassroots through the supervision of local government councils and will make the necessary investments in facilities to support the policy.
He reiterated the government’s determination to reposition sports infrastructure across the state to enhance youth development and promote sporting excellence.
