On an inspection of the site, which is located opposite the NFF Secretariat inside the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Thursday, Gusau, in company with some members of NFF Management, was conducted round the various sections of the project by the lead architect, Architect Gambo Ahmadu.
After the inspection, Gusau expressed satisfaction with the pace of work at the site and expressed confidence that the contractors will be able to deliver on the 24-month mandate given for the completion of the work.
I am happy with the pace of the work, the seriousness shown so far by the contractors, and the quality of the work as seen so far. They have a 24-month mandate to deliver, and at the pace they are going, they should be able to complete the Players Hostel and the Training Pitches on or before that timeline.
I am also impressed with the quality of work. For the present NFF administration, it is a legacy project and it is very close to our hearts. I am also happy that the project is located close to the office wheremembers of the NFF Executive Committee whenever any of them are in Abuja, myself and the NFF Management and Staff can easily monitor what is being done.
The inspection took Gusau and his team to the site of the new training pitches, the old training pitch which is also to undergo extensive renovation, and the two-story Players Hostel, which will have several office and conference facilities on the ground floor, while the first and second floors will contain the rooms for the players and officials.
We need the report of what has been done so far, alongside photographs, for us to send to FIFA so that they know how far the project has gone, Gusau told Architect Ahmadu.
It will be recalled that at only the second meeting of the present NFF Executive Committee, Gusau tabled the proposal for this legacy project to his colleagues, and it was unanimously endorsed that the NFFs residual funds from the FIFA 2.0 and the proposed funds from then incipient FIFA 3.0 be utilized for the construction of a befitting hostel accommodation for the National Teams, and the construction of two Football Pitches one natural turf and one synthetic turf for use by the teams at the Goal Project section of the Package B of MKO Abiola National Stadium.
With Gusau at the inspection were NFFs Director of Communications, Dr Ademola Olajire Deputy Director of Competitions, Dr Ayo Abdulrahaman AD Protocol, Emmanuel Ayanbunmi and SA to President, Abubakar Danladi Umar.