Determined to avert any security lapses, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, yesterday ordered the deployment of a bomb squad to the Akwa-Ibom International Stadium where Nigeria will today host South Africa in a crucial AFCON 2015 qualifier.
While the police are busy perfecting security measures, fans are finding it difficult to get match tickets, no thanks to the activities of ticket racketeers who as at last night are having a field day.
Nigeria’s FIFA security officer, Gideon Akinsola, disclosure in chat with Daily Sunsports that the police will equally stop fans from entering the arena with any form of hard object. Not even an umbrella will be allowed, even if it rains, Akinsola stated.
It would be recalled that Abuja fans went gaga during and after the Eagles AFCON encounter against Sudan last month.
According to Akinsola: “We are deploying enough personnel to the stadium for the game and this will include the anti- bomb squad. We are guaranteeing adequate security before, during and after the match.”
Meanwhile, everything points to fans paying heavily to see the Eagles play as ticket racketeers are having a field day.
Artificial scarcity has been created with tickets that ordinarily should go for N500 are being sold for N1,500 while VIP tickets of N3000 are going for N5000.
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials are blaming the situation on a top official of Akwa Ibom state government who is hell bent on using the tickets to smile to the banks.
“We are going to inform the governor, Godswill Akpabio of what has happened and why his people are paying throw the nose to see the match,” a top NFF official said.
No comments:
Post a Comment