Benue State Government has revealed that the ongoing reconstruction work on McCarthy Stadium, Makurdi is expected to be completed before May 29, 2025 for commissioning.
The State Commissioner for Sports, Youth and Creativity, Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange, who gave the assurance while inspecting the ongoing work confirmed that the stadium is already wearing new look with the regrassing already being completed.
He said the McCarthy stadium is the second total sports complex work being embarked upon by the Governor Hyacinth Alia-led administration in less than one year
“Our Governor, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia, is a sports loving governor. He demonstrated high level commitment in the development of of grassroots sports. He’s interested in digging out hidden talents, bringing and nurturing them to stardom. And there is no way this is going to be possible if there are no sports facilities.
“You know that for football, particularly, you must have playing pitches before this can be done. A lot of people have come from outside the state and country who tried to scout for talents.
“But it was difficult in the state because we do not have pitches that will be played on. Playing on the sandy pitch cannot bring out the true potentials of the players. This is not just about football.”
He said with the current massive investment in sports infrastructure in the State, Benue will soon bounce back to reckoning.
The Commissioner also disclosed that aside Makurdi, the present administration will extend sports infrastructural development to the various local government areas of the state.
“Already, the governor has made increased budgetary provision for Sports and other areas of Youth development in 2025. He is passionate about young people because they constitute huge portion of our population, which means they are the future people who will make things happen.
“Just, the governor revived the one of the major grassroots based football tournament known as the Governor’s Cup and lots of talents were discovered,” he said.
A Director with Pitch Perfect Construction Company, the firm handling the McCarthy stadium work, Olayiwola Ibrahim Bidemi, said the project which is being executed with top quality materials in line with FIFA specifications and standard.
He said, “We met the entire stadium in a very dilapidated state. When we came here to McCarthy Stadium, the pitch was just ordinary sand. In fact, the grass was dead and gone. We met only topsoil.
“So, we have to start all over by bringing down every part of the complex including regrassing of the pitch, remodeling of the pavilion – before now it was one pavilion but now we are expanding from VIP to regular seating arrangements.
“We have target to conclude regrassing work by next week, then embark on other construction works, and weeks to come, we will be done.”
