Fulani herdsmen convert National stadium stadium into grazing field

Fulani herdsmen have  converted  the National Stadium, Abuja,  into a fertile land for cattle pasture  as weeds overtake the package B section of  the $360m  facility.

According to ThePunch, tall grasses have overtaken almost every part of the complex.

Fresh and dried cow dung could be seen on the asphalt within the complex showing that the animals regularly graze on the grasses  at the stadium.

The security officials manning the  gate blamed the sports ministry  for the deterioration in the condition of the stadium – and for giving the herdsmen unhindered access to the stadium, which hosted the 2003 All Africa Games won by Nigeria.

One of  the security men,  who spoke on condition of anonymity,  said some of the ministry officials are happy that  herdsmen have converted  the  busy stadium into a grazing field.

The source said, “The herdsmen come into the stadium with their cattle almost every day. They come through the collapsed portion of the fence and we can’t stop them because we are not armed.

“The management are  aware of the situation, but  they  have  refused to do anything about it, meaning  they are  comfortable with it.”

The velodrome (an arena for  cycling) at  the stadium complex has been under lock and key  since 2015, after thousands of gas stoves bought ahead of the general elections that year were stored in it by the  Goodluck Jonathan administration.