Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has said that work would soon begin on the new Umuahia Stadium, which will be a complete stadium city.

Speaking while receiving a delegation led by Abia State-born international footballer and Super Eagles star, Samuel Chukwueze, in his office yesterday, Otti stated that the land for the construction of the new stadium has already been acquired, hinting that he would like Abia people to come and invest in the state. 
 
Chukwueze was in Umuahia to thank Otti for coming to identify with him during his mother’s burial over the weekend.
  
Otti said: “I’m sure that before the end of the year, we will flag-off the construction of the new Umuahia stadium. 
  
“The land is already acquired, and we are at the feasibility stage. Because we are not just building a stadium, we are building a stadium city, like a sports village. 
 
“There will be hotels, there will be estates. There will be other attractions just to develop that path. The commissioner for Youths and Sports Development will also give you details.
 
“We would like our people to come and invest here. Pick whatever that is of interest to you. You may be interested in one thing or the other, and we will give priority to our people.” 

The governor, who congratulated Chukwueze on his achievements in sports and for being a good ambassador of Abia State, assured him of the support of his administration’s continuous support.
  
While commiserating with Chukwueze on the demise of his mother at a young age, Otti described it as a monumental loss, and encouraged him to take heart, as it is God that knows it all. 
  
Earlier, Chukwueze said that he visited the governor in company of his friends, to thank him for his support, while describing the visible transformation across the state as evidence of purposeful leadership.
 
The footballer noted that he had closely followed the governor’s achievements and was impressed by the numerous infrastructural projects being executed across the State. 
 
Chukwueze described the plan for the new stadium as a laudable investment for the future of sports development in the state, noting that the project would create opportunities for young talents, provide modern sporting facilities, and position Abia as a destination for sports enthusiasts from across the world.
 
He assured that he would equally invest in sports in the state, emphasising his desire to give back to the community that shaped his career.