A new stadium city in Umuahia, intended to change the state’s sports and economic activities, Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti has said, will begin construction before the end of the year.
The News Chronicle reports that Otti revealed the information when entertaining Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze, who stopped by Government House in Umuahia to thank the governor for supporting his mother’s funeral. The governor says that while feasibility studies are ongoing, land for the ambitious project has already been obtained.
Otti said that the project would include hotels, residential complexes, and other commercial attractions meant to make a lively sports center beyond a typical stadium. He also advised Abians living both inside and outside to seize investment opportunities arising from the project.
The governor praised Chukwueze for his accomplishments on the world scene and hailed him as a deserving state ambassador. He also expressed sorrow at the passing of the mother of the football player.
In reply, Chukwueze praised the clear improvement in Abia’s infrastructure and said that the proposed stadium city would greatly help advance sport. While promising his own support for sports development in Abia, the AC Milan player claimed the initiative would help foster young talent and draw worldwide attention to the state’s athletics.
