Nasarawa builds five mini-stadiums overhauls facilities as Governor Sule vows to make state Nigeria’s sports hub

The Governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to repositioning the State as Nigeria’s hub for sports, with sweeping investments in infrastructure, athlete welfare, and competitive performance

The Governor gave the assurance on Friday during a successful half-hour EXCLUSIVE MEDIA INTERVIEW with the Head of Public Relations of the State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Eche Amos, at the Government House in Lafia, where he responded expansively and emphatically to issues bothering on the welfare of athletes, stakeholders, and the future of sports in the State.

“When I took over as Governor of Nasarawa State in 2019, as a technical person, I set up an agenda for what I wanted to do and how I intended to achieve it during my tenure.

“Sports is one profession that brings unity and people together in harmony. For a State that is multi-ethnic and multi-religious like ours, I strongly believe that sports is one language that can bring everyone together, which was where I picked my motivation to put everything in the sports sector.

He disclosed that his administration is currently constructing five mini sports stadia in Wamba, Doma, Kokona, Keffi and Toto Local Government Areas of the State, and undertaking a comprehensive revamp on existing sports and youth facilities including the Lafia City Stadium, indoor sports facilities at the old Presidential Lodge, the Lafia Golf Club, the Lafia City Multipurpose Hall, (now rechristened the Sports Arena), the Project Quarters’ Tennis Courts, and the Sani Abacha Youth Centre, all situated in Lafia.

According to him, the strategy is to decentralize access to sports and youth infrastructure and nurture talent at the grassroots.

“The Lafia City Stadium has been overburdened with a lot of activities that you rarely get a minute or two without any sporting activities there, apart from Nasarawa United, Nasarawa Amazons, Basira FC, and the Nasarawa United Feeder Team who use there as their home ground. And all these make it difficult to overhaul the Stadium to our proposed Olympic-size facility.

“This is what necessitated our desire to build five brand new mini-stadia across the State where some of those activities at the Lafia City Stadium can be transferred there so we can reduce the traffic there and have the time to rebuild the Lafia City Stadium.”

On the long-abandoned only known Sports Academy in Nigeria situated in Akwanga, his hometown , Governor Sule explained that rebuilding it is no longer feasible under his administration due to large-scale encroachment by residents around the facility, but believed his successor would possibly carry out the project.

“I think we have some challenges as far as the Sports Academy in Akwanga is concerned.

“Akwanga is my Local Government Area, however, the process to revamp the Sports Academy there didn’t start on a good footing.

“The level of encroachment on the facility makes it extremely difficult to have a conducive Sports Academy. This involves so many high-profile names in Akwanga. We honestly can’t revamp that facility now without actually rubbing some shoulders. So, I didn’t want to engage in such a fight, rather, I will channel my energy somewhere else.

“Indeed, the facility doesn’t represent what a true Sports Academy should look like, and I tried all I could to change its face to what it should look like, unfortunately, it’s going to be so problematic for this administration because that’s a full-time attention facility, from the facilities to the encroachments and tools to be used.

“So, I think that is a fight for another Governor to take”, Sule stated.

He, however, stressed that the new mini-stadia and upgraded centres would serve as viable alternatives for talent development.

Setting an ambitious target, the Governor said he wants to see Nasarawa State’s two Premier League clubs, Nasarawa United, (Nigeria Premier Football League) and Nasarawa Amazons, (Nigeria Women’s Premier League), and athletes across other sports disciplines win more medals and laurels before the end of his tenure on May 29th, 2027.

“As a State, we have been making good names in Nasarawa United, Nasarawa Amazons and various other sports. Our children who are into sports are doing a fantastic job in the country and even abroad because I have been following up with them and have seen so much what they have been doing.

“I am happy with the reintroduction of the defunct Governor’s Football Cup tournament that is bringing out some of our finest and talented youth from the grassroots who are now fitting into Nasarawa United, Nasarawa Amazons and other Sports Disciplines

“Also, Basira FC, though a privately-owned football club, is equally doing well in the second tier football league.

“I must say we have achieved something meaningful, whether we are exactly where we wanted to be or not, we have not given up on winning a major laurel like the Nigeria Premier Football League title with Nasarawa United and same with Nasarawa Amazons in the Women’s League, and I am proud of Nasarawa Amazons who have won the President Federation’s Cup twice under my administration, and still proud of Nasarawa United who continue to try, and I strongly believe we can lay our hands on the highest titles and play continental football before the end of my administration.

“I will continue to give the teams and other sports the needed supports necessary to succeed”, the Governor reassured.

He further commended himself and his administration for prioritizing sports development and introducing welfare packages for athletes and stakeholders, describing the measures as critical to optimal performance and sustainable growth.

“Nobody handed over sports to me. I took sports on my own because of my interest.

“I am so passionate about sports because I played a lot of games when I was younger – basketball, football, volleyball, tennis, name them. This is why I invest so much in sports and its stakeholders, and want my State’s sports teams to be the number one in the country.

“I believe my successor, Distinguished Senator Ahmed Wadada Aliyu will show more energy and passion for sports because he has demonstrated that through his Polo Ranch in Keffi”, the Governor concluded.

Eche Amos FCBS, ANIPR,
Head of Public Relations,
Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

11/09/2026