Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar is keen at completing the football pitch
By Baba Shehu Oscu, Bauchi
The Bauchi State Commissioner of Youths and Sports Alhaji Abubakar Seyi, has assured the state’s darling team Wikki Tourists FC Bauchi will commence it training and play their subsequent league matches at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, (ATBS) in Bauchi soon.
Seyi gave the assurance recently after conducting sport journalists round the ATBS main bowl pitch to evaluate progress of work by the contractor handling the laying of the artificial grass.
The bad pitch prevented football fans in the state from watching the National League for the past two years.
The commissioner, who expressed serious concern over the delay of the project which should have been completed since early last year, blamed the contractor for the disappointment despite state government commitment and interest to satisfy its sports-loving people by attracting many international and national football events.
Seyi earlier noted that the state government under the Governor Mohammed Abubakar, awarded the contract at the cost of N135million and had mobilized the contractor with over N60million which enabled him to bring some of the vital materials to commence the work but did not show up.
According to the commissioner, it took the state government a long time to locate the whereabouts of the contractor and a fresh condition given to start and complete the job within the stipulated time.
He said now the state government has so far paid the contractor N97million out of the initial contract amount of N135million after assessment of the work done so far which is up to about 70 per cent.
Seyi said already the ground work has been completed and what is now left is the laying of the artificial grass which has been supplied and the company promised it will be ready in three weeks.
The commissioner commended the commitment of the state government and personal interest shown by Governor Abubakar in ensuring the release of the said amount paid to the company with a promise to pay the remaining balance as soon as the work is completed as promised.
He expressed dismay over the home advantage the state darling team was losing, the deprivation of supporters and fans to watch the league matches, the lost of economic advantage to the state and over spending by club as a result of playing home at an away venue in the past two years.
The commissioner appealed for an apology from all stakeholders and took complete responsibilities of the delay even as it is not the fault of the state government as some aggrieved stakeholders and mischief makers might think.
