Bauchi awards N140m contract to renovate ATB stadium

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The Bauchi State Government on Thursday said that it awarded N140m contract for the renovation of the Abubakar  Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi  for Wikki Tourists CAF  Cup matches.

The State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Alhaji Zubairu Madaki made this known in Bauchi while leading a team of Nigeria Football Federation on a pre inspection tour of the stadium.

The tour is ahead of an inspection visit by Confederation of African Football.

Madaki said that the contract was awarded to reform Sports West Africa Limited, Abuja and Ideal Communications Limited for the renovation of the main pitch, lightings and score boards.

He said that the contract was awarded this month and that the stadium would be ready for the matches within three weeks.

Madaki said: Other facilities such as the dressing rooms, media centre, water system and standby generators are all in good conditions.

Zaranda Hotels, Chartwell Hotels, Fariah Suits and Wikki Hotels are some of the hotels selected to accommodate players and officials during the tournament.

Abubakar Tafawa  Balewa University  Teaching Hospital, the state specialists’ hospital and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa  International Airport, all in Bauchi  have been chosen as referral hospitals  and airport during the tournament .

A member of the NFF team ,Emma Adesanya  told newsmen after the inspection that the team was satisfied  with the facilities on ground Adesanya said: It shows a sign of commitment on the part of the stae government.

Adesanya who is also the NFF Chief Sports Officer, said that the state had been at the forefront of sports development.

He said we have seen the number of facilities; we are impressed particularly with the media and medical  facilities ; there are just few places to work on

We have told them to demarcate the VIP   area and put few things and such as scoreboard pitch . We visited the dressing rooms, they   are in perfect condition we saw the lightings  electric scoreboards and electronics change board.

We were told there is a functional borehole, two referral hospitals just a stone throw from the stadium two motorized stretchers two ambulances and others.

Adesanya said that the CAF team would inspect the 15,000 capacity stadium after the first round of matches. The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the stadium is the home ground of Bauchi-based  Wikki Tourists FC campaigning in the 2017 CAF Cup competition.

The stadium had a major renovation in 2009 .

Source : The Nation