By Victor Kanayo
There is tension in Asaba, the Delta State capital, Nigeria following the collapse of a section of multi sports complex located inside Stephen Keshi stadium.
The complex which had hosted some notable sporting events including Athletics Championship and a match involving Nigeria’s Super Eagles, is scheduled to host 2022 National Sports Festival (NSF) in which kicks off barely two weeks time.
The collapse according to findings by Heritage Times HT revealed that it might not be unconnected to hurried approach deployed by the Delta State Government in putting up new hostel structure and indoor halls which are meant to be used for NSF.
The casualties accoding to eyewitness were construction workers at the site of the building.
Thousands of athletes, officials and spectators from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory are expected to converge for the over one week highest annual sporting event in Nigeria which held in Benin, Edo state in 2021.
The latest development has now cast doubt over the proposed hosting of the event, and if all it eventually takes place, many people will certainly be in fear staying around the stadium area which pose great danger to lives and property, stakeholders who spoke anonymously told Heritage Times HT.
To make matters worst, a team of journalists including those that went to access the level of damage were beaten up and bundled out of the stadium on the orders of a top official of the state government identified as Mr. Tonobok Okowa.
The collapsed stadium building was recently inspected by the Nigerian Minister of Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare, who gave a pass mark, saying that the facilities were 80% ready for use.
However, some structural engineers expressed concerns over the speed at which the construction was going, doubting the integrity of the buildings under construction.
Already, organisers of the 2022 NSF have since rolled out accreditation exercise for all participants with the closing date due in few days.
Reacting to the development, the Delta state government said no live was lost but admitted the impact of the collapse.
