Pictures showing the dilapidated state of the Adokiye Amiesiemaka stadium in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, have surfaced online, attracting reactions from netizens about the maintenance of the multi billion naira edifice, which seems to be in a current state of ruins.
The 38,000 capacity stadium is owned by the Rivers State government and was built under the administration of former governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi. It was commissioned by the administration of Nyesom Wike on July 19, 2015.
The inauguration of the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium featured a thrilling match between Nigeria and Congo in a qualifier for the Rio Olympics. The game culminated in a 2–1 victory for Nigeria over Congo.
The stadium is named after a former Attorney General of Rivers State and, according to reports needs urgent government intervention. Adokiye Amiesimaka was also a former member of the Super Eagles team.
The Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium’s poor condition led to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) denying it the hosting rights of CAF competitions. As a result, Rivers United had to play their home matches at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo, despite the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium having a sitting capacity of 38,000.
Many people from Rivers State have expressed their concerns about the current state of the stadium.
Oraye Franklyn, a former media aide to former governor Nyesom Wike, attributed the stadium’s poor state to political wrangling between the current Governor of Rivers State, Siminalaye Fubara, and his predecessor, Chief Nyesom Wike. He added that the crisis is affecting the state’s development.
Others attributed the failure to a lack of good maintenance culture from the Rivers state government.
See photos of the stadium below:
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