The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru has announced plans to demolish some sections of the Ebonyi State international Olympic Stadium that is currently about 70 per cent completed.
The governor assured that the project which was commenced by his predecessor, David Umahi will be rebuilt before he bows out of office.
Nwifuru disclosed the plan on Thursday at the stadium project site, Centenary city Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital.
The governor embarked on statewide inspection of projects with stakeholders as a part of the lineup events to commemorate the 2024 Independence Day anniversary of Nigeria and Ebonyi State creation on October 1.
He observed that there was shoddy job at the site and, however, directed the demolition of some sections of the project to make it a standard international stadium as planned.
He commended Umahi for initiating the project and assured of its completion under his administration as well as announced invitation of Julius Berger Company to take over the job to ensure quality and effective delivery.
“I have asked China Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC to check the cost of demolishing this to the end and demolishing the other side to the end and the implications of not having a complete line. So, the implication of having a complete line is that international and national activities cannot take place here. We are building here to compete with the God’swill Akpabio International Stadium at Akwa Ibom and that of Kano.
“For us to get to that level, it may warrant us to demolish two of the whole lines in order to get it right. But considering what we earn as a state, a lot of money has been spent here. And if you spend 50kobo in 2022, now you are going to use 10 naira to get it right.
“The foundation of the decking has been there; this is not a complete decking. We are stepping up into that to get it right .This is not a stadium yet, this is just an insight of what is going to happen. That is what we invited the Julius Berger to come and do. At the back, there is work that needs to be done at the facility for this place to qualify to be called an international stadium. Calling here Sani Abachi International Stadium, it has not been discussed because we are returning Abachi Lodge to Abachi.
“Some of our good brothers, through Abacha, did a tremendous job for us. So we can name him (Abacha) one of the best properties in the state and it will form part of what we are going to discuss. This project is going to form part of the 2025 and 2026 budgets, and that is why I deem it necessary to bring every stakeholder here to see the level of work done. Also, to inform and educate them on the level of the work needed to be done to qualify this project as a standard international Olympic stadium. That is why we are here. I must commend my predecessor for initiating this project.
“This stadium is such a project that will attract foreign investment to our state, so I am very grateful to my predecessor for starting this because in governance, as a leader, you must inherit assets and liabilities, and that is what is happening now.
“We must work hard to make the vision of my predecessor, who conceived this project, come to fruition. We have seen the inside but we need to go outside and see the level of work done as well,” Nwifuru said.
