By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
With nine months left to the completion date of the ongoing construction of the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and Practice Pitches, an ultra-modern legacy project at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium (Package B) in Abuja, the synthetic turf component of the work has already been delivered, Prompt News Online reports.
This is even as the block work of the 68-room hostel facility, which is funded by FIFA, has been completed too as the contractors are said to be strictly adhering to the 24-month timeline given to them to complete the project.
A visit to the project sites at the weekend showed that work is progressing fast across the facilities with the hybrid synthetic turf already completed and well marked with white paint and substitutes bench put in place.
A construction worker who pleaded anonymity told our reporter that the next phase in the hybrid synthetic turf is the erection of sitting terraces for spectators with 1,838 seats and two dressing rooms.
He also revealed that with successful laying of the hybrid synthetic turf, the natural grass pitch opposite the synthetic turf, which is handled by the same contractor, will soon be completed because the special grasses imported for the purpose are waiting for planting.
Meanwhile, the construction of the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel, a two-wing building containing 62 Single rooms, 4 Standard suites, and 2 Executive suites with other amenities like very spacious Kitchen, Restaurant, Sauna, Meeting rooms, and a Banquet hall, have reached at advanced level with the block work already completed.
According to the NFF-FIFA Players’Hostel Project Coordinator/NFF Director of Accounts, Mr. Rajan Zaka, both contractors handling the two brand new pitches, Aron Nigeria Limited and two-storey hostel facilities, Investment Company Limited, are on course to deliver the job on time.
He said that the legacy project funded by FIFA Forward 3.0 is 15 months into a 24-month timeline given to them, with completion date targeted for early 2027.
Recall that CAF Acting General Secretary Samson Adamu, who was on working visit to Nigeria a week ago, praised the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and
training pitch projects, describing them as legacy investments for Nigerian football.
He commended the leadership of the NFF led by Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, following his inspection of the ongoing projects at Package B of the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
“Being a Nigerian and seeing what is being built here, I can only be proud. The future looks extremely bright. This is the type of facility that will help produce the next Jay-Jay Okochas and many more great players. It is important for a country of Nigeria’s size to have infrastructure capable of accommodating all the national teams and age-grade categories while bringing together talented players from across the country to be nurtured. I congratulate the leadership of the NFF for this laudable legacy project,” Adamu stated.
Also,NFF President himself expressed satisfaction and reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to delivering the project within the agreed timeline.
He disclosed that the construction contract is for a two-year period, and that work has now reached the fifteenth month since it officially commenced in March last year, leaving approximately nine months to completion.
The project is built to drastically reduce the NFF’s heavy reliance on expensive hotel accommodations during national team camping periods.
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