By Okey Alozie
The contractor handling projects at Dan Anyiam and Grasshoppers International Stadium (names withheld) is on the run following the collapse of the stadium roofs that almost wrecked havoc Monday night.
Our reporter who visited the place revealed that nothing has been done to remedy the situation as players and athletes who throng the place for exercises now train under open roof and under tensed condition.
It was gathered that the affected areas are now danger zones to people as sports lovers coming into the stadium move around with caution.
Trumpeta also observed that the state handball team players were at the time of the report, using the collapsed Grasshoppers International Stadium for their preparations. The players were however enveloped with fear as the were training, due to the havoc caused by the violent wind on the structure last Monday.
Meanwhile, further investigation, revealed that the contractor handling the renovation work/roofing of the arena has not handed over the place to the sports council and so, the council management and Principal Officer of the Council, Rtd Capt Christian Ugochukwu Ibekwe could not comment on the cause of the disaster.
Investigation revealed that the contractor overlooked certain things which were meant to put the structure in line with the specification given to him by the state Government, hence the disaster.
According to a source, the direction of the wind was not properly considered before placing the roofs. Moreover the required standard was not met.
One sports council official who spoke under strict anonymity disclosed that the roofs were not properly tied as a result it was pulled out completely by the heavy wind that wrecked havoc at the stadium last Monday. Property worth of millions naira were destroyed but there was no lost of life.
The stadium staff on their own account gave kudos to the principal officer of the place for evacuating the entrance gate which was covered with the damaged roofs.
The rain was said to have also wrecked havoc at the hand ball pitch and damaged the VIP stand.
The state commissioner for sports, Hon Kenneth Emelu was said to have visited the troubled spots with the contractor immediately the incident took place and after that according our source, the contractor out of fear disappeared and has not come back to site again to do a remedial work at the place.
