A severe windstorm has damaged the pavilion of the Lafiagi Mini Stadium in Edu Local Council of Kwara State, prompting the Lafiagi Emirate Youths Transparency Association (LEYTA) to call for thorough checks and strict adherence to professional standards in the reconstruction of the facility.

The association made the call after a fact-finding visit to the project site in Lafiagi, headquarters of Edu Local Council, where it engaged members of the project team on the circumstances surrounding the collapse.

During the visit, the structural engineer handling the project explained that the collapse was not caused by the use of substandard materials, adding that the company was prepared to make samples of the materials available for independent laboratory testing to verify their compliance with required standards.

According to the engineer, the project team had observed during construction that Lafiagi experiences higher wind speeds than some parts of Kwara Central and Kwara South.

He said a review of the available geotechnical report showed that it did not contain wind-speed analysis, while provisions for windbreakers and other wind-resistant measures were not included in the original architectural design.

He explained that the construction team subsequently introduced windbreakers into the design to address the gap.

However, their installation had not been completed before the incident because workers were still waiting for the cast base columns to cure.

The engineer described the incident as a natural disaster rather than a structural failure caused by poor-quality materials.

Speaking on behalf of the company, he thanked LEYTA for its concern and assured the association of the firm’s commitment to completing the project.

He added that the engineering team had submitted fresh recommendations to the company’s management for approval, following the directive of the Kwara State Government to ensure the timely completion of the project.

LEYTA commended the state government for siting the mini stadium in Edu LGA, saying the facility could create employment opportunities, stimulate economic activities and provide a recreational and sporting hub for youths in the emirate.

The association, however, urged the state government, project consultants and the construction company to prioritise quality, transparency and strict compliance with professional standards in the project.

It also called for adequate consideration of Lafiagi’s peculiar environmental conditions, particularly wind patterns, in the redesign and reconstruction of the damaged pavilion.

LEYTA appealed to the state government to provide the necessary support to the contractor to ensure the safe, standard and timely completion of the stadium.

The association reiterated its commitment to monitoring the project constructively in the interest of the development of Lafiagi Emirate and Edu Local Council.