2016 Female AFCON: Ministers inspect Limbe Stadium

Bidoung Mkpatt (Sports and Physical Education Minister), and the South West Governor were in Limbe December 8 to inspect on-going supplementary works around the Limbe modern stadium.

They were accompanied by Mbwentchou Jean-Claude (Minister of Housing and Urban Development) and Abba Sadou (Minister Delegate at the Presidency of the Republic in charge of Public Contracts).

A Chinese company completed the construction of the edifice which cost FCFA 19-billion Stadium about one year ago, but the 20,000-seat structure is still pending an official handing-over to the Government.

In addition to the awaited official reception of the stadium, other major accompanying works are still staring the Government in the face to include access roads, electricity, water, 2,600 capacity packing lot, two training stadia, and roofing of spectators lodge.

While on the stadium Tuesday, an architect, Bob Ashu, explained to the visiting Ministers that the major things remaining are for the Chinese to train personnel to ensure maintenance of the stadium when they leave.

Other experts added that electricity and water are key urgencies without which other works may not be effected. Most capital, too, is the main two-kilometre access road whose construction is on-going.

Some technicians equally raised concerns about the inadequate studies of the Limbe stadium project which ought to have included all of what is being hurried over now. Even more difficult to solve is the fact that it was not foreseen in the project that the numerous mighty stones around the stadium should have been dynamited before construction as any attempt to do so now would shake the foundation of the already built elegant structure.

To address these urgent problems Minister Bidoung Mkpatt held a closed-door meeting at the stadium conference room, Tuesday, with contractors, engineers and local authorities after visiting the various sites.

An informant told Cameroon Tribune that stern instructions were given to contractors to finish their work by March next year so that test matches can be organized in the stadium. Even more urgent is the fact that FIFA supervisors are arriving next February to inspect and verify if the stadium is ready for use.

The Ministers noted that less than 30 percent of the works had been done after consuming over 40 percent of their time stipulated in the contracts. The contractors were warned of the risk of cancelling their contracts if delays persist.

Although Minister Bidoung Mkpatt refused to talk to the press after the in-camera meeting, the atmosphere seemed severe enough to detect that the Limbe Omnisports stadium has become a hot potato as the project has received over 10 visits by Government Ministers in less than one year.