Delta State Governor Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa has expressed confidence that the Stephen Keshi Stadium will be ready for use in May. Addressing newsmen after an inspection visit to the stadium in Asaba, Governor Okowa said the stadium will be ready in May and will be able to host national competitions.

According to him ” I am told by the contractors that looking onto the month of May they should be completing this project and I believe that once the stadium is completed some of these national assignments and competitions will also take place here, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation has already spoken towards that because once something is good it cannot be hidden”.

Governor Okowa assured that the completion of the stadium would enhance the state government’s plans for youth sports development emphasizing that the state will benefit from such activities.

“We are in the plan to grow a lot of sporting activities as we are actually concerned with youth sport development and i am sure that a lot of activities will be taken place here, recently we have been using the Ozoro stadium; we will not stop using it but this obviously will be a higher quality stadium” the governor said.

He commended the contracting firm handling the project for keeping to time schedule and specifications emphasizing that the state is ready to host the world in August.

In another development,  Okowa said the Anwai River and Amilimocha Stream in Asaba will be fully dredged to check the effects of storm water that will empty into them from the on-going massive drainages being constructed in the state capital.

The Governor made the disclosure Thursday while inspecting on-going drainage projects in the state capital.  He also, inspected the construction works going on at the Stephen Keshi’s Stadium, Asaba.

According to Governor Okowa who fielded questions from newsmen after the exercise, “I am glad that the projects have gone far, the contractors are reputable companies that requires little or no supervision, we are happy with the pace and quality of work being done.”

“We are conscious of the volumes of water that will pass through the storm drainages and we have asked the Ministry of Environment to dredge the Anwai River and the Amilimocha Stream,” the Governor disclosed, adding, “our interest is to ensure that flood water is effectively channeled in the capital city and other parts of the state where there is need to control flood water.”

He observed that during his recent town hall meeting in Warri, the issue of constructing drainage in that area was raised, stating, that work was ongoing in the area and the contractor handling the drainage by Effurun round about promised to complete the project by July.

“Two days ago, we inspected the drainage at the Warri/Sapele road; that drainage is essentially to drain that particular road which is being done into three lanes on both sides, that is, from Enerhen to Effurun junction, but, at the town hall meeting, the people of Warri South asked for a proper drainage that will be done in the whole of Warri, unfortunately, in the past, we have been doing a kind of make-shift drainage without having any study and I promised them that we will first of all, carry out a proper study of the area by setting up a team with a consulting firm along with some selected elders from that area who understands the topography so that a proper design could be created.”