Tag Archives: Stadium

Niger Begins Bako Kontagora Stadium Upgrade ahead of NPFL Season

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By Daniel Ebi the, Minna.

The Niger State Government has commenced the reconstruction of the Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna, with the installation of a FIFA-standard synthetic playing surface as part of preparations for the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.

The project, which has been awarded to Diamond Orange Limited, is aimed at ensuring that Niger Tornadoes return to their home ground in Minna for the start of the new league campaign after playing away from home due to inadequate facilities.

Speaking during the official handover of the project, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development and Supervising Commissioner for Sports, Jacob Baba Yisa, said Governor Mohammed Umar Bago had approved the immediate reconstruction of the stadium and directed that the work be executed in line with approved standards.

Yisa stated that the government is determined to complete the renovation before the commencement of the new NPFL season, enabling Niger Tornadoes to host their home fixtures at the Bako Kontagora Stadium.

The Chairman of the Niger Tornadoes Management Committee, Abubakar Abdullahi Kuso, described the project as another significant achievement under the state’s New Niger Agenda. 

He disclosed that Governor Bago had personally directed that every effort be made to ensure the club returns to Minna for its home matches.

“Following a one-on-one meeting with His Excellency, the Governor instructed me to do everything possible to ensure Niger Tornadoes play their home games in Minna from the beginning of the league season,” Kuso said.

The Managing Director of Diamond Orange Limited, Isaac Obonyano, assured the state government and football stakeholders that the project would be delivered within the agreed timeframe and in accordance with international specifications.

According to him, the FIFA-recognised synthetic turf carries a 10-year guarantee, while the renovation will also include the installation of facilities capable of supporting night matches, bringing the stadium closer to modern football standards.

The upgrade is expected to significantly improve football infrastructure in Niger State, enhance the match-day experience for supporters, and provide Niger Tornadoes with a competitive advantage by returning to their traditional home ground for the upcoming NPFL season.

2026 Sports Festival: Gov Mbah vows to upgrade Enugu township stadium to world-class 

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By, Chinelo Kodilichukwu, Enugu 

Enugu state governor, Peter Mbah, has, ahead of the forthcoming 2026 National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in the state, vowd to upgrade the state township stadium and Agwu Games Village to a world class standard. 

The governor, however, emphasized that the state is ready to welcome Nigerians and athletes from across the nation to the 2026 National Sports Festival to be hosted by the state. 

Mbah said  his administration was already working to upgrade sporting facilities in the state such as the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Games Village in Agwu, among others, to make them not only befitting for the purpose but also for sports development in the state.

He disclosed this at his investiture ceremony as President of Enugu Sports Club as well as the commissioning of the remodeled clubhouse and installation of new club patrons at the weekend. 

He said the sporting facilities were part of the government’s strategic efforts to grow the state’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion, attract over three million tourists, and create thousands of jobs for the youths. 

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He added that the transformation being witnessed by the transportation in the state was designed to complement this vision. 

“We are going to give our stadium a brand new look, which will include facilities for aquatic sports. In addition, Awgu Sports and Games Village will be revamped to ensure it is ready for the festival”.

The governor, who commended the Sports Club for the strategic partnership it had fostered with the administration, stressed that the policies, programmes and projects of the government had been consistent with the pledge he made to them during the 2023 electioneering year.

“The last time I visited this facility was during the campaign for the governorship election. During that visit, I outlined a bold vision to transform Enugu State into a viable economy, and reposition it as a premier destination for business and leisure. 

 Mbah observed that the state’s domestic revenue had been revived through the use of technology to plug leakages and the deliberate efforts to mobilise and revitalise dormant assets. 

He further expressed optimism that the administration would surpass the projected internally generated revenue (IGR) of ₩600 billion for 2025 to fund capital development projects that would transform the state, lift people out of poverty, and raise their standards of living. 

While insisting that the administration has not increased taxes but only widened tax nets, plugged revenue leaked and revamped dormant assets, Mbah said, “Our stated goal to eradicate poverty is further reinforced as we steadily revive once moribund industries through an inflow of investments. 

“The revenue growth is what enables us to make significant interventions across all sectors. Our investments in the social services sector, from education to healthcare and water supply, stand as testaments to our fidelity to the pledge to make the people the cornerstone of every government policy and project.” 

He further observed that the sports club had contributed immensely to the development of the state through its long history which coincided with the designation of the state as the capital of Southern Nigeria in 1929. 

Responding, the outgoing chairman, Victor Atuonwu, and members of his executive for the efforts they put in remodeling the clubhouse, 

Atuonwu lauded the governor for the support he had accorded the club to ensure that the clubhouse and other facilities were successfully remodeled to its current benefitting status.

Gov. Nwifuru to demolish section of Ebonyi Olympic stadium 

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By Uchenna Okeh Abakaliki

The governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru has reiterated his administration’s readiness to demolish sections of the Olympic stadium located at the centenary city Abakaliki, state capital.

The Nations News Nigeria reports that the purpose for the demolition of parts of the state Olympic stadium, was to make it have an international outlook and standard.

Nwifuru who made this known while addressing stakeholders of the state during the inspection of projects to mark the independent anniversary of Nigeria at 64 and Ebonyi at 28, said the stakeholders will consider renaming of the stadium which was named after Sani Abachi.

According to him: “I have asked China Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC to check the cost of demolishing this to the end and demolishing the other side to the end and the implications of not having a complete line. So, the implication of having a complete line is that international and national activities can’t take place here. 

“We are building here to compete with the Goodwill Akpabio International Stadium at Akwa Ibom. For us to get to that level, it may warrant us to demolish the two of the whole lines in order to get it right. But considering what we earn as a state, a lot of money has been spent here. And if you spend 50kobo in 2022, now you are going to use 10 Naira to get it right. 

“The foundation of the decking has been there; this is not a complete decking. We are stepping up into that. This is not a stadium yet, this is just a taste of what is going to happen. That’s what we invite the Julius Berger to come and do. At the back, there is work that needs to be done at the facility for this place to qualify to be called an international stadium. 

“Calling here Sani Abachi International Stadium, it has not been discussed because we are returning Abachi Lodge to Abachi. We have some good brothers, though Abacha did a tremendous job for us. So we can name him (Abacha) one of the best properties, and it forms part of what we are going to discuss. 

“This project is going to to form part of the 2025 and 2026 budgets, and that’s why I deem it necessary to bring every stakeholder here to see the level of work done. And also to inform and educate them on the level of the work needed to be done to qualify  this project a stadium. That’s why we are here. I must commend my predecessor for initiating this project.

“I was the Speaker then, and I did everything to convince him not to start this project based on the economic value. The economic value of this project is very good because we need to attract a foreign project. 

“This stadium is such a project that attracts foreign investment to our state, so I am very grateful to my predecessor for starting this because in governance, as a leader, you must inherit assets and liabilities, and that’s what is happening now. 

“We must work hard to make the vision of my predecessor, who conceived this project, come to fruition.  We have seen the inside but we need to go outside and see the level of work done as well” he statedÂ