New Akure Stadum  To Gulp N3.7 billion

By Ayodeji Moradeyo, Akure

Governor Olusegun Agagu of Ondo State on Tuesday flagged off   a 10, 000 ultra-Modern Olympic Stadium worth over N3.7 billion in Akure, the state capital.
The new stadium which will be handled by CCC Construction Nigeria limited has provision for adequate car park, training pitch, shopping arena, medical centre, press gallery and an ICT centre for ease of communication.
Other facilities to be provided at the new stadium are tartan tracks of ten lanes, flood lights, electronic score board, a befitting state box (with VIP extensions) modern office accommodation and a host of ancillary facilities.
Agagu while flagging of the new stadium contract, assured sports men and women in the state his administration would not relent in its efforts to provide the necessary facilities and conducive environment for them to complete and excel.
He said that the project would be completed by 2010, adding that the, CCC Construction Nigeria limited was carefully selected out of a pack of 17 contractors that expressed interest in the project.
According to him, “The contract for this project was awarded in line with our usual practice; the contractors will be paid substantial part of the contract sum as mobilization, the cheque of which will be handed over to them in the course of this programme.”
He appealed to the contractor not to leave any stone unturned in its efforts to deliver this project within 80 weeks.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Prince Ola John Mafo lauded  the state government for its  commitment to transforming Ondo State to a better place to live.
He said the event was a reality of a dream of about thirty years stressing that “ The search for a modern stadium befitting of the status of our Sunshine state started in the early eighties with the acquisition of this very location as far back as 1986” Mafo said, “Between 1986, when the land was acquired and now a lot of water had passed under the bridge, as one administration after the other tried in their own ways without success to actualize the dream of our people over the project. A lot of efforts and resources went down the drain on pre-construction activities like consultancy, engineering designs etc, all to no avail”
In his own goodwill message, the Deji of Akure, Oba Adepoju Adesina lauded Governor Olusegun Agagu for the gesture saying it would provide job opportunities for the people of the state.