Sports facilities worth N1.78bn rot away in Jos multi-billion naira stadium

Some imported sports equipment worth N1.78 billion, yet to be fixed at the Jos multi-billion naira stadium on Zaria Road, are rotting away following stoppage of work at the site.

Topmost among the equipment are the two-German-made scoreboards, which arrived at the construction site since November 2014.

A source told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Jos that the one year warrantee given by the manufacturers of the score boards would expire by Oct. 31.

“We are aware the German manufacturing company had written the contractor of the stadium, BCC Tropical Nig. Limited, and the Plateau state government.”

The company warned the contractors against the consequences of keeping the equipment unused within the warrantee period.

“The German firm is expected to be responsible for assembling and maintenance of the scoreboards within the warrantee period, ’’ the source further disclosed.

According to the source, the score boards came in panels, which when allowed to stick together for a long time un-assembled, may render them useless.

It said that aside the unfixed equipment, the pitch, completed since 2012 and handed over to the ministry in 2013 for maintenance, “is also under threat ’’.

“It’s unfortunate that since last March, when the contractor stopped work at the site, there has not been any maintenance work carried out on the pitch, ’’ the source lamented.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who visited the stadium, reported that the rubber pellets and sand keeping the pitch grasses standing and in good condition, had been washed away by rain.

Beside the guards and the Military Special Task Force (STF) officers and men keeping vigil at the stadium, reptiles were seen roaming and scavenging at the stadium.

Contacted, Nanle Emmanuel, the state governor’s director of press, said the Plateau Government was aware of the challenges before it.

He said the government was doing all it could to secure a loan facility of N10 billion for the completion of some key ongoing projects in the state.

“We are aware of the score board warrantee and the problem with the pitch; but as soon as we get the funds, we shall ensure that the project is completed and put to use,” he assured.

Mr. Emmanuel said the contractor had over N2 billion certificates, which would be paid to him once funds were available to enable him to return to site.

“Other priority projects beside the stadium include the completion of the flyover bridge at the Secretariat Junction, the renovation of the state secretariat and the Jos-Mararaban Jama’a road, ’’ he said.

The contractor, Plamen Illiev, lamented the continuous dragging of the contract and expressed his willingness to return to site as soon as government made funds available to him.