By Ovie Okpare
The multiple sports complex of the Stephen Keshi Stadium billed to hold the upcoming 21st National Sports Festival (NSF) in Asaba, Delta State, has collapsed.
The complex which is under-construction ahead of the competition collapsed on Thursday morning killing at least three persons.
It was learnt that unspecified number of workers at the site also sustained injuries and had been rushed to hospital for treatment.
The collapsed building is being expected to be used for 21st National Sports Festival (NSF) to be hosted at the stadium from November 28, this year.
Meanwhile, there was a mild drama at the scene of the unfortunate incident as the chairman Delta State Sports Commission, Tonobok Okowa, reportedly directed thugs to attack team of journalists who had rushed down to cover rescue operation.
The attacked journalists are Paul Osuyi of the Sun, Monday Osayande of Guardian and Amaechi Okwara of Blueprint Newspapers.
Okowa, who is also the current President of Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and brother to Delta State governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, also ordered the alleged thugs to confiscate the working tools including phones of the attacked journalists.
Okowa had warned journalists upon arrival that they were not needed and ordered them to immediately leave.
Narrating the incident to newsmen, one of the journalists to NIGER DELTA TODAY Online
That they were at the site to access the level of damage caused by the collapse.
According to the journalist, Okowa, who doubles as Co-Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the NSF tagged Asaba 2022, witnessed their beating by the thugs.
“But when his boys were reluctant in carrying out the order, he shouted ‘are they still here , collect their gadgets and bundle them out of here’”, journalist added.
The journalist pointed out that they were beaten with sport guns and other objects by Okowa’s thugs.
Recall that the collapsed building was recently inspected by the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, who gave a pass mark, saying that the facilities were 80% ready for use.
However, some structural engineers expressed concerns over the speed at which the construction was going, doubting the integrity of the buildings under construction.
