By Paul
A structure under construction at the Stephen Keshi International Stadium in Asaba, Delta State, collapsed on Thursday, injuring many persons.
The building being built is for the National Sports Festival, which will be held at the stadium on November 28, 2022. Sunday Dare, the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, was alleged to have examined the project.
While a crane was believed to have caused the collapse, an insider suggested the haste in building to meet the delivery date was to blame.
On the instructions of Delta State Sports Commission Chairman Tonobok Okowa, some journalists who went to inspect the amount of damage were assaulted and hustled out of the stadium.
Okowa, who also serves as Co-Chairman of the festival’s Local Organising Committee, directed his troops to seize the reporters’ working gear.
Mr Olise Ifeajika, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, who was at the stadium, claimed it was a little event and not as serious as initially reported.
Mr Charles Aniagwu, the state Commissioner for Information, further stated that the disaster was caused by the crane’s operator misaligning the crane, which resulted in the heavy-duty equipment slamming against the wall of one of the levels. He stated that only one individual was injured minorly.
