Imo awards N3b new stadia contracts

IN its bid to reposition sports in the state, the Imo State Government has awarded fresh contracts valued at about N3 billion for the construction of two stadia in two zones of the state, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Kenneth Emelue, disclosed.

The stadia are located in Orlu and Okigwe, while the existing Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri is undergoing full rehabilitation, reflecting the balance in the three senatorial zones of the state.

Addressing journalists at the Sports Ministry’s Conference Hall in Owerri on Monday, Emelu, who came in company of the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Obinna Ufonmadu, and other directors, named the contractors as ARON Nigeria Limited, represented by an engineer, Adeola Adenuga, and Reform Group, Abuja, with its representatives as Godwin Emokhare and Ifeanyi Irogementi.

Emelu said the state government has paid 30 per cent of the contract sum, expecting the job to be completed in less than a year, adding that they would be paid fully based on their performance according to the terms of the contract.

According to the commissioner, each of the Okigwe and Orlu stadia has 15,000 sitting capacity, while Dan Anyiam has 13,000, but the Owerri Stadium would get Olympic-standard facilities very soon.

“The rehabilitation of Dan Anyiam Stadium will soon begin and new facilities expected there are those you normally find in Olympic-standard stadia,” he added.

He regretted that the construction of another Olympic-size stadium along Port Harcourt Road, Owerri, was disrupted by members of the community at Area K, adding that the governor had made part payment to the contractors before they were stopped by the villagers.

Responding, the representatives of the two contractors, Emokhare (Reform Group) and Adenuga (ARON) said they were happy to identify with the development of the state through sports, among others, promising to deliver as scheduled given the availability of resources.