(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/DSC_00921-300x199.jpg) The Government of Katsina State is soon to complete a 35,000 seater Stadium which has reached an advanced stage featuring an electronic scoreboard, parking lot, changing rooms and spectator seats.
Briefing members of the National Good Governance Tour at the Karakanda Stadium which means rhinoceros in Hausa, a representative of the Project Managers, Multi-Systems said the Stadium will be equipped with all required facilities.
He said "The project is 90 percent complete as the electronic scoreboard has been installed as well as major structural works on the Stadium.
"As you can see one third of the Stadium is covered and all the seats are here. Under the stadium seats is a press centre, changing rooms, offices and sport shops".
The state government believes Sports is not just all about games but it is about economic empowerment of the youths. "It is about concentrating their energies in the right direction. Whether it is on employment or in sports. So we decided to do this and this work you are seeing is a hundred percent public resources. No kobo was borrowed, we are not owing any contractor, the contract is on schedule and by the grace of God, Mr. President will be here to commission this among other giant projects in the state", a state official informed.
The State Government had approved contract to plant an artificial pitch in the main bowl and the work is expected to be completed on 30th May.
In his remarks, the President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Mohammed Garba said the project was laudable and would enhance sports activities in the country. "We are really impressed with the standard of work we are seeing here", Garba stated.
While noting that similar stadium projects have been inspected by the NGGT Team in other states visited so far, the NUJ President commended the State Government for not taken a loan to execute the project and the focus to embark on the construction of the Stadium.
Speaking, the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku insisted that Governors in the country that have the desire to develop their states have the capacity to do so because the resources are available.
"If Katsina is able to do this without borrowing then the major question in the country today is about resource management and vision. That is what we are talking about. That is why this National Good Governance Tour is important because there are people who specialize in performing on the pages of newspapers. So much noise all over the place. So when this Tour was about to start, they were jittery, they don't want the Tour because this is what is revealing.
"We are in the North West where there is no oil revenue. Lagos alone has something in the region of 19 to 21 billion naira from internally generated revenue monthly from infrastructure already built over decades in addition to the one from Abuja. But look at what Katsina has achieved and is achieving. Look at what Kebbi also has achieved.
"We want people to work, that is what this Tour is all about and we want the evidence of that work to be shown to all Nigerians. All these infrastructure is happening in Katsina because you have been able somehow to maintain peace and tranquility in Katsina State.
"The Media must help me and help this nation. I am sad because if you go and read the pages of our newspapers, you will not see these stories there, you will not hear anything that is going on in this country.
"I want to say that from what we have seen for the last two weeks from Touring the States of the North West I can confidently say Nigeria is a work in progress, that it is not every story that is about Boko Haram and violence. There is a lot of constructive work that is happening in the North and we need to report it so that Nigerians and other foreigners who come here will know that this part of the country is also about development and that serious work is going on here.
The Contractor handling the construction work is CCECC Nig. Ltd.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria