Gov Sambo Revokes Sports Hall Contract

Kaduna State Governor, Mohammed Namadi Sambo has revoked the contract awarded to Aron Nigeria Ltd for the construction of an Indoor Sports Hall to the tune of N4.7m.

The contract, which was meant to be completed in 24 weeks is to be used for the forthcoming 16th National Sports Festival slated for the state in November this year, but lack of seriousness on the part of the contractors forced the Governor to revoke the contract when he paid an unscheduled visit to the site last week at the Muratala Mohammed Square.

Among the various contracts awarded by Kaduna State government towards the end of last year for the purpose of hosting the forthcoming National Sports Festival, only Aron Nigeria Ltd has failed to show some commitment.

After four months in which the company had dug grounds for the foundation of the structure, nothing has been added.

Speaking shortly after the unscheduled visit, Governor Sambo expressed dissatisfaction with the level of works going on generally at the sites, saying other contractors are scouting to handle the Indoor Sports Hall job.

For the Olympic-sized Swimming Pool, State Co. Nigeria Ltd are on site with a completion period of 12 weeks and an advanced payment of 50 per cent. Also, De Hatro Integrated Ltd, handlers of the Outdoor Courts have a 20-week completion period with a 25 per cent advanced payment made from the contract cost of N 1.9m.

The Gymnasium and Squash Courts at the Nigerian Air Force Base is being handled by Ashwell & Partrick Ltd at the cost of N28.5m with a completion period of 14 weeks and have since been paid 75 per cent advanced payment in view of the high offshore component involved.

In all, total of N1.1bn is being expended by the Kaduna State government out of a budgetary provision of N1.5bn in the provision and up-grading of facilities, which will include the laying of completely new tartan tracks at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium for the hosting of the festival.

Meanwhile, a highly placed authority within the government circle has lamented, the revocation of Aron Nigeria Ltd's contract, stating that the consultant handling the project, Sports Solutions was not completely fair to the contractors whose work has been revoked, but failed to expatiate further in spite of a plea for him to open up.