The Abia State Government has set up a committee to develop a new plan to remodel the Enyimba FC stadium and to develop new markets in the city.
This was revealed by the Commissioner for information, Prince Okey Kanu after the state’s Federal Executive Council meeting. He said the government is planning to reshape Aba into a mega city and revamping of the stadium is part of the plans.
“For those of us who are familiar with that part of Aba, we know that those markets around there constitute a great traffic grid lock around that area. So this special committee is going to work on how to free that area and, at the end of the day, reconstruct the existing Enyimba Stadium into a modern stadium that is fit-for-purpose.
So, what we are looking at is the possibility of revamping the stadium. Currently, there are no accesses to the stadium, no parking (lot); you can’t even access it because people that trade there have occupied the whole road.”
Speaking also, the Director-General of the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), Mr. Uche Ukeje highlighted that it is not ideal for the stadium to be sandwiched by two markets and a tertiary institution.
”For those of you that know the city well, you know that the current location of the stadium is also where we have the Ngwa Road market. Beside it is the School of Hygiene and about 200 to 300metres at the end of School of Hygiene is the Ekeoha market.
“So, at this point, it is exploring the possibility of retaining it there. But no decision has been taken yet, that is why the committee was set up.”
The remodeling of the stadium and its environs could see the relocation of the markets, returning the streets adjoining it to a residential area, expansion of the stadium to accommodate parking lots and other sporting facilities.