We want to build  world-class  Stadium City with guaranteed sustainability – Otti

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

The prototype of the proposed Abia Stadium City

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, says the interest of his administration was to build the proposed Abia Stadium City which sustainability would be guaranteed.

 Governor Otti, while expressing the readiness of his administration to partner with serious investors to build the proposed stadium city to create a better future and boost the state’s economy, said such a huge investment must not suffer when his administration was out of power.

The Governor spoke on Tuesday when he received, in audience, a team of development partners led by the Managing Director, Irish Development Group (IDG), Mr. Nigel Neely, who came to present a masterplan of the proposed Abia Stadium City, in his office. 

He said that his administration has been on the stadium project and was looking for investors with not only the capacity to deliver but willing to invest in the state, stressing that with private sector involvement, such a gigantic project could be achieved while its sustainability would be guaranteed, even beyond his tenure in office.

“We’ve been on this stadium project, and we’ve pushed very hard because we know what we want to achieve. Listening to you, you clearly know what to do,” the Governor said.

“So, just looking at these highlights (of your presentation), I know that the devil is in the details. It looks like something that can work. We have it out already, and I’m happy you have even gone ahead to inspect the site.

“So now, if it’s largely private sector-held, then even when I’m not here tomorrow, they will run well because it also has to be sustainable,” he added.

Emphasizing that sustainability was key, the Governor said that government could have 20 percent maximum investment and allow the rest to be owned by private investors.

“I think we’re now going to sit down and drill down the real issues around the details. Like they say, the devil may be in the details.

“Where do we find the money? How much is it going to cost? In what tranches are they going to come? And who is going to own it? As a government, we want to maintain minimum share holding,” the Governor stressed.

The Governor further assured that power would not be a problem for the project as his administration was concluding plans to buy the Umuahia ringed-fence of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company, which would provide enough power to Umuahia and the entire Abia North zone.

Presenting the master plan of the proposed Abia Stadium City, the Development Partner and Managing Director, Irish Development Group (IDG), Mr. Nigel Neely, said that the proposed Abia Stadium City, to be sited on 96 hectares of land in Umuahia, represents an initiative designed to reposition the state as a premier destination for sports, tourism, business, and recreation.

He said that the project is anchored on the creation of a world-class, multi – functional sports and entertainment complex that would serve the region and attract global attention.

According to him, the structures for the proposed Abia Stadium City include a Stadium and Sports zone, Games Village and High-Performance Training Centre, Residential District (Smart Housing) offering modern, tech-integrated living spaces for residents and visitors, Hospitality and Tourism zones with hotels, resorts, among others.

Mr. Neely expressed delight to be part of what he described as the transformative vision of Governor Alex Otti.

The Commissioners for Youth and Sports, Sir Nwaobilor Nwadinma Ananaba, and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Uwaoma Ukandu, were among government officials at the presentation.