The firm handling the multibillion naira Stadium in Jos, along Zaria Road, has raised an alarm over deterioration of the project which has been deserted by the government.

In a letter made available to ViewPointNigeria on Thursday, the Contractor, BCC Tropical Nig. Ltd., informed the state government about the decay of the installed facilities in the stadium. The contractors informed Gov. Simon Lalong on the horrible state of the completed football pitch and the other equipment which have been affected by rain.

A reliable source from the state’s Ministry of Sports, who spoke to VPN anonymously, expressed worry over the “attitude and un-seriousness of the government” towards the completion of the six-year-old project.

The source noted that due to the country’s economic recession, the cost of the equipment required for the completion of the project will definitely increase.

He said,” The contactor wrote to the Commissioner for the Ministry of Sports informing him of the poor maintenance of the artificial turf, and its consequences”.

The letter, which was signed by the firm’s Managing Director, Mr Plamen Iliev, said: “Your Excellency, the main reasons for raising this alarm are several, including the serious deterioration of the already installed artificial turf football pitch due to lack of maintenance”.

“If immediate overhaul is not done immediately, the cost implication for the client to restore the pitch in the future will be enormous”.

According to Mr. Plamen, two scoreboards worth N1.3bn, which were imported since Nov. 2014, are yet to be installed, leaving them at the mercy of the rain.

The firm argued that because the building is yet to be roofed, it has exposed the structure to harsh weather conditions, thereby affecting the strength of the structure.

The Director of Press to the Governor, Mr. Emmanuel Nanle, told VPN that even though he was unaware of the project, the government was keen on completing the project.

He said,“We are thinking that before the end of this year it will be completed but when we were told of what was expected to be done, we only released funds towards the roofing. We are still waiting for funds to be available and then we shall complete it without further delay; I’m assuring you that Gov. Lalong is interested in completion of the stadium without further delay”.

He added that there is no way the two scoreboards can be installed when the stadium has not been roofed; but he said the issue will be addressed very soon.

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Contractor raises alarm over deterioration of Multibillion Naira Stadium in Jos