By Lucky Uto
Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has issued a strong warning to contractors handling the Warri Stadium renovation, stressing that delays and poor-quality work will not be accepted.
During an inspection visit on Tuesday, the governor expressed concern that the project, which was supposed to be completed in December, is still ongoing months later.
He made it clear that meeting deadlines is very important and contractors must take responsibility for any delays.
Although he acknowledged that some progress has been made, Oborevwori said failing to deliver on time affects public trust and the integrity of the contract.
He, however, praised the quality of the football pitch, describing it as good and up to standard. Despite this, he criticized parts of the construction work, especially the cladding, saying it is not strong enough for a project of that level.
The governor insisted that the state government will not accept substandard materials, adding that any poor work will be removed and replaced with better quality.
He also warned the contractor, Peculiar Consults, that continued failure to meet expectations could lead to public exposure.
Oborevwori explained that the government chose to renovate the existing Warri Stadium instead of building a new one due to limited space and the need to preserve its history.
He added that the government did not want to displace people living around the area.
Looking ahead, the governor said the stadium will be ready to host major sporting events once completed, strengthening Delta State’s reputation in sports development.
He also revealed plans to rehabilitate the Stephen Keshi Stadium after the Warri project.
Meanwhile, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, praised the state government’s effort, noting that the project could revive football activities in Warri, though he said the stadium may not be ready for matches until September.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Phillip Shaibu, commended the quality of the pitch, describing it as excellent and a sign of the state’s commitment to sports development.
