Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has ordered the demolition of certain parts of the International Stadium built in the state to attract international and national activities.
Nwifuru disclosed this at the Olympic Stadium project site during a statewide inspection with stakeholders as part of the lineup of events to commemorate Nigeria’s 2024 independence anniversary and the creation of Ebonyi State on October 1st.
The governor, who vowed to complete the stadium initiated by his predecessor, Senator David Umahi, has handed over the project to Julius Berger Company to ensure quality and effective delivery.
He commended Umahi for initiating the project, noting that when completed, it will attract economic development to the state.
His words: “I have asked China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) to assess the cost of demolishing this part and the implications of not having a complete line. The implication of having an incomplete line is that international and national activities can’t take place here. We are building here to compete with the Goodwill Akpabio International Stadium in Akwa Ibom.
“For us to reach that level, it may warrant demolishing the entire line to get it right. Considering what we earn as a state, a lot of money has already been spent here. If you spent 50 kobo in 2022, now you are going to use 10 Naira to get it right. The foundation of the decking has been laid; this is not a complete deck. We are stepping up to that. This is not a stadium yet; this is just a taste of what is going to happen.
“That’s why we invited Julius Berger to come and work here. At the back, there is work that needs to be done for this facility to qualify as an international stadium. Calling it Sani Abacha International Stadium has not been discussed because we are returning Abacha Lodge to Abacha. We have some good brothers; though Abacha did a tremendous job for us, we can name him (Abacha) as one of the best properties, and it forms part of what we are going to discuss.
“This project is going to form part of the 2025 and 2026 budgets, and that’s why I deemed it necessary to bring every stakeholder here to see the level of work done. I also want to inform and educate them on the level of work needed to qualify this project as a stadium. That’s why we are here. I must commend my predecessor for initiating this project.
“I was the Speaker then, and I did everything to convince him not to start this project based on its economic value. The economic value of this project is significant because we need to attract foreign projects. This stadium is such a project that attracts foreign investment to our state, so I am very grateful to my predecessor for starting this. In governance, as a leader, you must inherit assets and liabilities, and that’s 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.”
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