The chief executive officer of Monimichelle Sports Facility Construction Limited, Ebi Egbe, has forwarded a number of reasons why Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja continues to be unavailable for matches of Nigeria’s various national teams, especially the Super Eagles.
The renowned infrastructure and facilities expert opined during an exclusive interview with Sports247 in Abuja that Nigeria’s long-standing lack of an adequate maintenance culture, misdirected expatriate inputs and attempts to get the stadium fixed in a hurry are the major setbacks stalling the reopening of the country’s flagship arena.
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Egbe expatiated, “We lack that maintenance culture. We need to try as much as possible to have a good maintenance culture in us. But, at present, we lack it.”
He also spoke about what he described as a misnomer in bringing Europeans to handle pitch matters in African countries, where he is of the view that indigenous engineers would do a better job due to their familiarity with the terrain.
The smooth-talking guru added, “When I see white men come to work on Abuja National Stadium pitch, I just smile. We don’t have the culture to support those who install our pitches.
“We need to start thinking that we Africans can make it work for Africa. I keep telling them that what works in Europe may not work in Nigeria.”
He concluded by pointing out that rushing construction, renovation and rehabilitation of facilities is another major hurdle to face in trying to solve issues that keep affecting Nigeria’s sports infrastructure.
“Quickfix is a big problem in Nigeria. At Abuja National Stadium, we always go for quickfix. But I keep saying it, quickfix is not what we need for Abuja National Stadium … or even Lagos National Stadium.
“We need a sustainable pitch that can outlive World Cup qualifiers and Nations Cup qualifiers. Quickfix pitches are totally not worth it. So, I just pray they will get it right with Abuja National Stadium,” enthused Egbe.
He went on to deny allegations that he often abandons projects handed him as a leading contractor in the sports facilities business, countering instead that many clients expect him to finish jobs for which complete payment had not been made.
