Ituri: completion of construction work on a sports stadium requested

Bunia, May 3^rd, 2025(CPA) – The completion of construction work on a multi-sports stadium in Bunia, capital of Ituri province in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has been requested from the government of the Republic by the Ituri provincial youth council, the CPA learnt in an interview on Saturday. ‘We are asking the government of the Republic, through the Ministry of Sport and Leisure, to intervene quickly to finalize the construction work on the Kindia stadium, located in the town of Bunia,’ said Gentil Kaniki Abiandroa, former president of the Ituri provincial youth council. He deplored the fact that the stadium, although unfinished, was still temporarily handed over to the provincial authorities in August 2023, even though when completed it could provide the town of Bunia with a modern stadium of international standard. For Gentil Kaniki Abiandroa, using the stadium in its current state could contribute to its deterioration and cost the public purse more money. To avoid this situation, he urged the ministry responsible to invest within a reasonable timeframe to complete a number of works, including the installation of public lighting, water boreholes to ensure hygienic management, chairs in other parts of the stadium and the construction of ancillary infrastructure such as basketball courts, volleyball courts, a training ground for football clubs, a car park and the fencing of the entire concession. Mr Gentil Kaniki Abiandroa suggested that to leave this work unfinished would be to expose it to despoilment, despite the fact that it plays an essential role in bringing together the various communities in Ituri, where peaceful cohabitation is still a major challenge. Ir Yannick Kavaya, of the Congolese Agency for Major Works (ACGT), told the press in 2022 that nearly 10 million US dollars would be needed to complete the final construction work on this sports facility, which covers 3.5 hectares. Construction work on this multi-sports stadium, which has a seating capacity of more than 10,000, began in May 2017 by the Syno-Hydro company, with ACGT as the contracting authority. ACP/