Governor Orders Demolition Of Section Of Ebonyi Stadium

Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru yesterday decried the shoddy job executed by the China Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC, contractor handling the State Olympic Stadium at the Centenary City Abakaliki the state capital.

Go Nwifuru expressed concern over the poor job and directed the demolition of some sections of the project to make it an international stadium as envisioned by his predecessor.

The project was conceived by Engr David Umahi, before he bowed out of office.

Governor Nwifuru gave the order yesterday when he visited the stadium project site in Abakaliki as part of the activities lineup to commemorate the 2024 independence anniversary of Nigeria and Ebonyi State’s creation on October 1st.

He commended Umahi for initiating the project and assured of its completion under his administration.
Governor Nwifuru noted that the shoddy job necessitated him to invite Julius Berger PLC 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 can’t take place here.

We are building here to compete with the Goodwill Akpabio International Stadium at Akwa Ibom.

“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. 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 do the job. 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.