Otti justifies new 40,000-capacity Olympic stadium project

Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has said that his government would build a 40,000 capacity Olympic-standard stadium to ensure that the state’s teams have the facility to host its local and international games.

Otti regretted that Enyimba Football Club of Aba was forced to play its CAF Confederation Cup games in neighbouring Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, because the state lacked the facility to host such games. He added that there would be no meaningful sports development in Abia without the requisite facilities.

The governor, who was speaking during his monthly interactive session with journalists, which coincided with his 20 months in office, acknowledged that the stadiums in Aba and Umuahia, which his administration inherited, are not appropriate for sports needs of the modern Abia State.

He disclosed that a proposal has been made by a private investor to build a 40,000 capacity new stadium in Umuahia, outside the location of the present facility, adding that the up-grade of the Aba Stadium is among other projects marked for execution by his administration.

Otti said that while the Enyimba Stadium in Aba will be renovated in due course, that of Umuahia is constrained by lack of space for improvement.

He reiterated his commitments to providing quality healthcare and education to the people of the state by upgrading and retrofitting the structures in these institutions.

The governor said that the sum of N16.6 billion was approved in the 2025 budget for the state’s secondary health sub-sector, while about 5000 teachers are to be employed in batches for the schools, even as the retirement age of teachers has been increased to 65 with possible extension if the need arises.