Delta State Government Reacts Over Reported Stadium Collapse Incident Killing 3 Persons

• The Delta State government has decried reports that three persons lost their lives when a section of Stephen Keshi Stadium collapsed
• The forthcoming National Sports Festival is billed for the venue, with an incident occurring barely weeks before the event
• An official of the state commented that contrary to reports that three people died, only one person sustained minor injuries

The government of Delta State has denied reports making the rounds, indicating three persons lost their lives after a section of the Stephen Keshi Stadium collapsed.

Charles Aniagwu, the Commissioner for Information in the state and the Media Committee of the Local Organising Committee for Delta 2022 National Sports Festival, said the information about the incident was untrue.

In a chat from the venue of the incident, Aniagwu disclosed that the accident resulted from human error.

According to him, an operator of a crane caused the misalignment, which led to heavy equipment crashing onto the wall.

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Aniagwu said that contrary to reports that three persons were killed in the incident, only one person sustained a minor injury, and the victim was treated.

He told Punch:

“Right behind me is the premises of the indoor sports hall, under construction at the Stephen Keshi Stadium. The accident was caused by the crane operator, who couldn’t properly align the lift while trying to take up some heavy-duty equipment from the particular floor, and it fell on the wall, which led to a crash of a part of the wall."

Aniagwu added that workers had since resumed work on the site, and were said to be forging ahead with the construction project.

He stated emphatically that reports of lives being lost in the incident were not correct, nor were reports claiming the stadium had partially collapsed.

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Festival starts on November 28

Sports Brief earlier reported that the 21st National Sports Festival (NSF), which was initially scheduled to take place between November 2 and 15, now has new dates.

In a statement by the main organising committee (MOC), the 2022 NSF will be staged in Delta State from November 28 to December 10.

MOC secretary Peter Nelson explained that the event was slightly postponed due to the ongoing work at the facility.