The House of Representatives Committee on Sports on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction with the renovated Abuja stadium pitch.

Rep. Godfrey Gaiya, who led his committee members on oversight function to the Abuja Stadium on Tuesday, described the N96.6 million used for the re-grassing of the pitch as “doubtful”.

He told newsmen that as a legislator, he was disappointed with the level of work carried out by Julius Berger PLC as there was not enough drainage to drain the water after the rain.

“The re-grassing is just an aspect of the renovation and they said today that it cost them N96.6 million to do.

“My verdict is that I am not comfortable with the level of water logged on the pitch.

“I was in Calabar and it rained for three days non-stop before the match and you cannot compare Calabar that is in tropical environment to Abuja that is in the Savannah where rain is lighter.

“So, if it rained in Calabar for three days when Nigeria played Malawi and I never saw anything like waterlogged spot, why should ordinary drizzling cause water ponds on the renovated Abuja pitch,” Gaiya asked.

The legislator vowed that the National Sports Commission (NSC) must give detailed account of all their spending for the renovation of the stadium.

Gaiya regretted that he had no powers to summon the contractors, Julius Berger PLC, to explain but maintained that the NSC would be held responsible for any poor job done.

“We never entered into a contractual agreement with Julius Berger. Our oversight function rests on the NSC.

“It is the NSC that will bring its client to order when our observations are made known to them.

“We hope if they can relay the message to Julius Berger to get it done the way every Nigerian will be comfortable with,” he said.

Rep. Gaiya further described as “uncalled for” the ceremony which followed the renovation, noting that it was not a norm in the country to celebrate renovation of projects.

He pointed out that it was only ideal for new projects to be commissioned.

“What will you do if you complete the eight-lane road between Zuba and Airport,” he questioned.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/09/n97m-re-grassing-cost-of-abuja-stadium-pitch-doubtful-gaiya/

We just have the wrong people in place everywhere. 97 million for re-grass of stadium while we still have lots of things to do. its heart breaking to hear such news.

97 gini. Lootocracy at its best!

#crying and feeling sober# mood

My Oga at the top is categorically involvd.

Chai !
97M ke? Even Old Traford grass no cost reach. D debt wey these polithiefians go leave 4 our future children na season film.
God help us biko

We have millions of our future leaders off school for almost 4 months now while some of our politicians are there in Abuja looting our funds and trying to deceive us that the country is broke.

97 million to re-grass a stadium. This is the loot that got to our ears. Many happen everyday! Who knows, maybe this senator is talking now because he didn't get a fair share of the deal. Am just saying.

I am sure that in a few weeks after the immediate use of the stadium is complete, it will be left in a more deplorable situation again thereby making room for another renovation work; whatever happened to preventive maintenance.

God please save this nation.

97Million? Na new stadium or just a renovation? That House Committee should make sure NSC account for all their spending on that stadium.
They don't steal responsibly in this country, they just steal as if everybody is a fool.
God will safe us One day.

COURRUPTION

The amount (N97M » £600,000) is not the issue but the job that was poorly executed. Don't even mention Old Trafford or Emirate Stadium

The NSC should have known that the physical appearance is not the only upgrade to lookout for but should include the drains, texture of the grass and the ability to withstand most climatic conditions prevalent in this part of the world.

The worst that should be discouraged in Nigeria is the huge expenses on commissioning and celebrations of completed projects by the governments (FG and States) and their agencies.

Na Gold Grass abi ?.....GOD punish all of you all,useless sets of people in power

Ngwakwe: The amount (N97M » £600,000) is not the issue but the job that was poorly executed. Don't even mention Old Trafford or Emirate Stadium

The NSC should have known that the physical appearance is not the only upgrade to lookout for but should include the drains, texture of the grass and the ability to withstand most climatic conditions prevalent in this part of the world.

The worst that should be discouraged in Nigeria is the huge expenses on commissioning and celebrations of completed projects by the governments (FG and States) and their agencies.

Seconded.

Ngwakwe: The amount (N97M » £600,000) is not the issue but the job that was poorly executed. Don't even mention Old Trafford or Emirate Stadium

The NSC should have known that the physical appearance is not the only upgrade to lookout for but should include the drains, texture of the grass and the ability to withstand most climatic conditions prevalent in this part of the world.

The worst that should be discouraged in Nigeria is the huge expenses on commissioning and celebrations of completed projects by the governments (FG and States) and their agencies.

God bless you.
You spoke my mind.. I think it was poorly executed, even at that the #97M is still too much.

This is the problem we have in Nigeria, everybody wants to loot the treasury. I can boldly tell you guys that JB never in reality collected such amount of money for the project but the funniest of it all is that if you go to them you'll see papers of that said amount signed. Our leaders are just so corrupt. They all wants to make gain from any little project under their control and supervision.

It's called maintenance culture and we lack it.
What happens to the pitch in another 5 years?

Shakara123: We have millions of our future leaders off school for almost 4 months now while some of our politicians are there in Abuja looting our funds and trying to deceive us that the country is broke.

97 million to re-grass a stadium. This is the loot that got to our ears. Many happen everyday! Who knows, maybe this senator is talking now because he didn't get a fair share of the deal. Am just saying.

I am sure that in a few weeks after the immediate use of the stadium is complete, it will be left in a more deplorable situation again thereby making room for another renovation work; whatever happened to preventive maintenance.

God please save this nation.

Infact, Just Imagined the total Number of students placed on Unnecessary Holiday and pretty soon we shall want to compare then with Harvard Graduates and these are the people that shall occupy Political Post in nearby Future !!!


I was watching AIT yesterday,I saw the senator drawing handful of water from the pitch as if well water was there, hmmm,that was what an already overquoted 97million Naira has achieved !!!



We should endeavour to save ourselves before calling on God .....as It was said Heaven helep those who helep demsev !!