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| Mainbowl of Lafia Cuty Stadium |
The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Nasarawa State, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, on Monday, led a handful of Government delegation and a team of experts to inspect the Lafia City Stadium where the State-owned Premier football teams, Nasarawa United and Nasarawa Amazons, play their home matches.
The
inspection exercise was in compliance with the Nigeria Premier Football League
body's June 3rd, 2025, directive for clubs participating in the 2025/26 Nigeria
Premier Football League Season to upgrade their stadium facilities.
The NPFL
Board's letter focused on clubs installation of approved and functional
standard LED Floodlights for night matches, provision of back-up generator to
provide alternative source of power supply, installation of approved playing
turf, provision of perimeter fencing to enhance safety and security, provision
of safe entry and exit routes in the event of emergencies, and provision of
comfortable changing rooms for players and match officials.
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| Government delegation and a team of experts to inspecting the Lafia City Stadium |
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| Main stand of the stadium |
"We are
here to undertake an on-the-spot assessment of the Lafia City Stadium
facilities as we prepare for the next league campaign which we have been told
would commence by August 22nd, 2025.
"We have
identified the areas that require immediate improvement, and I will immediately
brief the Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, on this and the next step to take.
"As you
know, the Governor is so passionate about sports, particularly football, and it
won't be in our best interest for our darling teams to play their home matches
outside of Lafia.
"We
struggled and spent a lot of resources playing our home matches away from home
which negatively affected us in the past.
"We won't
be complacent anymore. We have to act fast and put this place in the best
condition before the league's inspection team will come visiting.
"We are
here with some experts. They have assessed the condition of the stadium, and in
the next couple of days or weeks, we should be installing the right floodlights
for night matches, replace the playing turf, as some parts are already peeling
off, refurbish the changing rooms, install athletic tartan tracks, as well as
install digital scoreboard, and other key areas that need urgent renovations,
to give the stadium a facelift.
"Also
recall that the State will be hosting the annual Gusau/Ahlan Cup Preseason
Football Tournament on this turf, which precedes the commencement of the
regular football season. As a responsible Government, we will ensure we meet
the timelines for all these competitions", Kwanta assured.
He added that
the State Government will work with relevant stakeholders to implement the
necessary upgrades, ensuring the stadium is ready for the new football league
campaign in Nigeria to enhance the overall football experience for players,
officials and spectators alike.
Also lending
his voice, Chairman, Nasarawa United FC, Solomon Babanjah, thanked the State
Government for the swift response to the directive of the NPFL Board,
emphasizing it would go a long way in changing the psychology of the
teams(Nasarawa United and Nasarawa Amazons)and their members.
Among other officials
in the Commissioner's entourage were Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and
Sports Development, Dr. Ibrahim Adamu Alhassan; Director of Facilities and
Stadia Management, Ahmad Yusuf; Chairman of Nasarawa State Football
Association, Salisu Galadima 'Basira', a team of experts, and journalists.
Recall that
the Chairman of the NPFL Board, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, had last week,
disclosed that the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League Season would
commence on August 22nd, 2025.
Nasarawa
United defied the odds to remain afloat in the domestic top-flight, next
season, finishing the regular 2024/25 season on 12th position.
Anas Yusuf
emerged as the League's highest goalscorer with eighteen (18) goals.
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