Liverpool Submit Application to Begin Anfield Road Expansion

If approved, work to expand Anfield to 61k would likely begin in
the summer of 2021 and take around 18 months.

After putting Anfield expansion plans on hold over the summer
amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and financial uncertainty, Liverpool
Football Club are again pushing ahead with plans to expand capacity
of the club’s historic stadium to 61,000.

Having today submitted a planning application with Liverpool’s
city council, it is being reported that a decision—fully expected
to be confirmatory with consultation having been completed before
the pandemic—will arrive in spring.

Work could then begin on expanding the Anfield Road end in the
summer, and based on previous reporting and the main stand
expansion, the expanded stand would be built behind the existing
stand to minimise matchday disruption.

The original intention had been for work to get under way on the
7,000 seat Anfield Road expansion in the summer of 2020 and for it
to take 18 months to complete. A year’s delay would mean an
expected completion date early in 2023.

The expansion is expected to cost £60M and follows the £110M
main stand expansion and a new £50M training centre that couldn’t
find room for the women’s team, who continue to play and train at
League Two side Tranmere’s facilities.

*Claims baseless Says UBTH

A Benin-based human rights activist, Patriot Patrick Eholor, has
threatened to sue the Management of the University of Benin
Teaching Hospital (UBTH) over the alleged extortion and corrupt
practices in regards to COVID-19 testing procedure.

Eholor, who is also founder, One Love Foundation, narrating his
alleged ordeal at the hands of staff of the Teaching Hospital on
Monday, said he was compelled to pay N30,000 for the test and
another N375 for what they termed administrative costs.

‘I will soon be traveling overseas and in strict compliance with
acquisition of COVID-19 certification, I went to UBTH to undertake
the compulsory test only to be asked to pay N30,000 as test
cost.

‘As if that was not insulting enough because health is supposed
to be free for every Nigerian, as enshrined in the Constitution, I
went and paid the N30,000.

‘On getting to the cash registry, I was told that there is a
service charge for additional N375. And I asked what it was
for?

‘The cashiers answered and said it was government regulations,
that the hospital management is partnering with some firms who
process theirn forms.’

The activist said he sees that action as ‘fraudulent and
preposterous. I saw a lot of people, even children ,there who were
helpless, as they were unable to afford to pay the excess charges
of the COVID-19 test.

‘So, I am compelled to take them to court, I am going to sue the
Hospital Management to make them explain to us why they are putting
the burden on us because I also know that the Central Bank of
Nigeria, (CBN), has directed that no service charge should be more
than sixty five kobo in any transaction…

‘I know that over time the CBN has directed that COT and other
excessive charges be reduced considerably , to abort exploitation
of the public by Bankers who thereafter invest the funds to buy
properties in high brow estates abroad.’

Eholor said this corruption must be stopped, while those who are
partnering with government to perpetuate this evil must be
investigated as the ordinary citizens of this great nation are very
pained, hence he is instituting the legal process to address the
issue.

Eholor said he has briefed his lawyer, an Abuja-based legal
luminary, Mr Ihensekhien, Esq., to file an action against the UBTH
and CBN to explain their actions to the public why they are
exploiting innocent Nigerians.

Eholor who presented copies of the payment vouchers to
Journalists in Benin said it would have been very calamitous if he
could not complete the process of the COVID-19 test as he did not
have the extra cash on him and he had to plead with one Miss
Gladys, a complete stranger, who agreed for money to be transferred
into her account at the hospital, where she then withdrew the money
for him to pay for the test.

He asked if he “did not meet that lady or could not afford the
cost ? Would he have been allowed to suffer unjustly like
others?’

He likened the situation at the UBTH to the contract at the
Lekki Epe Tollgate and others where an influential elite received
all the royalties and remit pittance to the government which led to
the alleged massacre during the recent #EndSARS protests.

On whether he finds out from the Management of the Hospital
whether the controversial charges were official, he said he indeed
made a lot of enquires at the hospital and nobody said the
contrary.

He said he wants them to as a matter of urgent public importance
look at the problem as other countries are conducting this Covid 19
test for free, emphasizing the dreaded monster was still killing
people globally .

Responding to the allegation, the Public Relations Officer,
UBTH, Mr Uwaila Joshua, said his allegations were baseless and that
COVID-19 test in UBTH is free for everyone who meets NCDC
guidelines on testing.

Uwaila also said for someone who doesn’t meet the requirement
and insists on getting tested, he cannot get the benefit of free
testing.