Acting Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, on Thursday, inspected the Lafia City Stadium.
The visit was to ascertain the completion of the playing turf of the football field by Reform Sports West Africa, the Company contracted to carry out renovation work on the site.
On ground to receive the Acting Governor were the Permanent Secretary of the State’s Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mallam Isah Mohammed Eyah, together with his Management staff and Contractor in charge of the project, Mr. Mike Adamu.
After touring the completed project, Dr. Akabe stated thus;
“I was informed by the Contractor handling the laying of the pitch that he has finished the task. So, I decided to come and see for myself the job done.
“I have seen that the grass has been fully laid and all the necessary things done.
“I must say it looks impressive, physically. But it will still be subjected to a professional test to ascertain the quality of work done, which is why I have directed the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to invite an expert to ascertain the quality of the job and subsequent usage of the facility for sporting activities.
“Though, we were not happy with the pace of the job, especially seeing that two of our great teams had to play their league games away from home, but thank God it has finally been completed.
“What is left next is to give the entire stadium a facelift, and this includes expanding the sitting capacity at both the VIP and Popular sides, changing the seats, installation of modern Floodlights so that games can be played at night, and general landscaping so that the stadium will meet the expected standard as well as generate revenue to the State.”
The Acting Governor added that the second term of the administration of Engr. Abdullahi Sule would not give preference to a particular sport, rather it would prioritize all sports for talents discovery, nurturing, and development for podium success.
He praised Organizers of the recent Maiden Nasarawa State U-13 Inter-Primary School Football Championship sponsored by the Founder of Aliyu Bello Charity Foundation, Hon. Aliyu Bello, and the ALGON/Engr. A.A. Sule Inter-Local Government Area Football Tournament and the Andoma Foundation for supporting the Government to aid the growth and development of sporting activities and stakeholders in the State, calling on other well-meaning individuals in the State to tow the same path.
On his part, Contractor, Reform Sports West Africa, Mike Adamu, assured of completing the remaining project at the Stadium, which is the installation of artificial grass on the Hockey pitch.
He also stated that his Company would construct a state-of-the-art Handball Court and donate to the State Government as part of their corporate social responsibility.
/Eche Amos
