By Ushang Ewa
Contractors handling the construction and renovation of sporting facilities for the controversial 19th National Sports Festival are yet to resume work on the various even venues despite threats of contract revocation by the Youth and Sports Commissioner CrossRiverWatch findings reveal.
The Commissioner, Mr. Asu Okang, as reported by CrossRiverWatch in a report culled from DailyTrust, and published on December 22, 2015 had directed all contractors to return to site claiming they could not justify the over 60 percent of contract sum given to them.
Findings by CrossRiverWatch reveal that none has so far obeyed the directive excluding the one handling the construction of a volleyball court at CRUTECH who earlier today dumped a trip of laterite to fill areas eroded by rainfall.
At the U. J Esuene stadium, the main pitch looks ready while the basketball court and swimming pools are yet to be completed with no contractor visible on sight except two officers of the MOPOL arm of the Nigeria Police Force who kept guard. “Nothing has been done here for over 6 months” a source reliably informed this reporter.
At the Calabar Sports Club, the surfaces of the tennis courts are almost ready with the stands yet to be completed.
Also no contractor was on site with members hoping it is completed soon as work has also stopped for some time.
At the site for the hockey and football pitch in CRUTECH, nothing was visible until earlier this week when fire was set to the grasses which showed work was far from complete with contractors abandoning site which residents say has become an abode for miscreants.
The football pitch is yet to be laid out as grasses have overgrown, making it difficult to actually determine the actual design of the pitch.
Residents had also turned the hockey pitches to soccer fields as they play almost everyday with the grasses dying off and weeds springing in their stead.
“No progress has been made and from the look of things we may not even meet this deadline” remarks a sports lover who craved anonymity.
It will be recalled that Asu Okang, the Sports Commissioner, while speaking to CrossRiverWatch in his office recently said the state will host the games in the second quarter of the year.
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