*As firm accuses Ministry of diverting project to ‘inferior’ contractor

A stadium facilities construction and maintenance firm, United Logistics, has accused the Federal Ministry of Sports of re-awarding the contract for the installation of the electronics scoreboard and laying of the tartan tracks at the National Stadium, Lagos, to an ‘inferior’ company despite the enormous resources made available for the project by the financier, Premier Lotto.

Recall that the Ministry of Sports was able to convince Premier Lotto to finance the rehabilitation of the National Stadium, Lagos, as part of its adopt-a-facility programme, which also accounted for the renovation of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, by Dangote Group.

While the Abuja National Stadium job has since been delivered by Dangote Group, work on the Lagos arena is expected to be completed this year. However, United Logistics has warned Nigerians that the Lagos job may not live up to expectations due to an alleged abuse of the contractual procedures.

Stating its case in Lagos at the weekend, a United Logistics Director, Tox Osibanjo, affirmed that Kyle Next/Builders Consult is the main contractor, while it was contacted as consultants for technical support for supply and installation of the electronic scoreboard and the running tracks.

He said: “After an official presentation of Mondo tracks to Chief Adebutu Kensington (Baba Ijebu), who in his philanthropic gesture approved procurement of Mondo tracks and stadium electronic scoreboard, the contractors later procured what was different from the agreed tracks and scoreboard from Mondo.

“Mondo tracks and scoreboard were the original items presented at the Public Private Partnership (PPP) meeting in the beginning.

“We criticised the contactor for the unprofessional way it has been handling the entire project, especially, the planting of the natural grass and installation of the Casali track.”

Osibanjo accused the main contractors of trying to shortchange them, hence, the resort to inferior materials, adding: “Their refusal to prepare the sub-base and drainage according IAAF standard led to United Logistics’ refusal to install on a defective asphaltic track and blocked drainage.”

Osibanjo reaffirmed that United Logistics was contracted by the Federal Government to procure tracks for the renovation of the National Stadium, which it perfectly delivered in good condition.

He alleged, however, “we were contacted to prepare our technical team from Italy for pre-inspection of the stadium tracks to begin the final stage of installation of the track and all efforts made by our company for the payment of our balance proved abortive.

“To our surprise, we saw in the national newspapers, the usual government magic that an amateur company had been assigned the contract for the installation of the tracks- that United Logistics supplied.

“I want to reiterate that our company (United Logistics) was contracted to procure and lay the Casali track at the dilapidated National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos. We delivered the tracks as specified. So, we were still waiting to get our balance for the purchase done, and then move to the next stage; which is to lay the tracks.”

“The government, instead of paying our balance, bypassed us to give the job to another company. That’s double standard, we just want the sports loving Nigerians to know that such arrangement can’t stand the test of time.”

Also speaking on the issue, Director, Experience Sport Facilities Limited and Mondo representative in West Africa, Oluwole Osaile, questioned the ability of the new contractors to deliver the tartan tracks to specification.

“It’s unprofessional that United Logistics are not allowed to complete the good job that they started. We have a track record together, at least, the tracks of Kaduna Stadium that our company laid since 2009 has stood the test of time in comparison to other tracks across Nigeria that have failed.”

Reacting to the allegations against the Ministry of Sports, Acting Director, Facilities, Okedairo Olatunji, said the complaints were misdirected. According to Olatunji, the renovation of the National Stadium, Lagos, is a product of the ministry’s adopt-a-facility programme, with Premier Lotto as the financier.

“It is not the business of the ministry to query our benefactor on his choice of contractor.

“Premier Lotto, in its magnanimity, is helping Nigeria to restore the National Stadium to its normal state after years of neglect. So, it has the right to employ any company it deems fit for the job.

“We are grateful to Premier Lotto for its gesture,” he said.