NIGERIAN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NOT HAPPY WITH STATE OF NATIONAL STADIUM: House Committee on Sports angry with refurbishment work
The House of Representatives’ Committee on Sports has expressed disappointment with the current state of the National Stadium, Abuja.

The House of Representatives’ Committee on Sports has expressed disappointment with the current state of the National Stadium, Abuja. During their visit to the stadium, the representatives expressed dismay at the state of the playing pitch at the stadium. A visibly angry committee member, Zephenial Jisalo expressed his anger verbally by saying, ‘I think Julius Berger did not do their right work on what is happening or they didn’t spend what was given to them or what was given as a contract to execute this project.’ The contractors in charge of the project, Julius Berger Plc, however defends the 96.6million naira refurbishment saying that it is of the best standard. Anthony Agbon, a Consultant with Julius Berger Plc replied the statements made by the Representatives by stating, ‘….. I can assure you, in this African country or in Nigeria as a whole, there is no field that can drain faster than this field you’re seeing.’ The House members however disagreed with the Consultant’s position, expressing unrestrained bafflement at how such shoddy work could have warranted a 96.6million naira cheque. It can be recalled that the Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi had performed the official handing-over of the rehabilitation project of the 10year old stadium playing pitch with a carnival-like ceremony. The House Committee on Sports after assessing the texture and condition of the playing pitch however concluded that it did not meet up with the expected standard and was no way worthy of its price tag.