Mr. Davidson Owumi, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), has commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State for the ongoing renovation of the Lafia Township Stadium, describing the improvement as “tremendous”.
Owumi gave the commendation during an inspection visit to the stadium in Lafia.
“ In comparison to what it used to be, I think there is a tremendous improvement,” he said.
He noted that although some finishing touches were still required, the progress recorded so far marked a clear departure from the state of the facility during previous inspections.
“I am here as a messenger. I will give feedback to the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with pictures and videos. He will be in a better position to give the final say.
“But I can truly say that there is a tremendous improvement from what we saw the last time we came here,” Owumi said.
The NPFL COO described the renovation of the stadium as a work in progress and expressed confidence that additional work would be carried out to meet the required standards for the benefit of the state and Nigerian football.
Owumi also praised Gov. Sule for his commitment to sports development, particularly football, noting that financing a premiership club was a demanding task.
“His Excellency, the governor, is doing absolutely well. For you to finance a club in the premiership is a very heavy task.
“So, I must praise him for his very good spirit towards football and sports in general. He has really done well,” he said.
He expressed hope that those implementing the project would demonstrate the same level of commitment as the governor to ensure optimal results.
In his remarks, Mr Yakubu Kwanta, the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, said that Sule had consistently demonstrated commitment to sports development since assuming office.
According to him, the administration has supported various sports, including football, handball, hockey, female football, basketball, taekwondo, among others.
“Gov. Abdullahi Sule is committed to developing sports generally in Nasarawa State,” he said.
He added that the governor approved necessary memos and provided political support to ensure the state’s participation in national sporting events.
Kwanta said that the renovation of the Lafia Township Stadium remained ongoing, noting that the NPFL inspection team had confirmed significant progress compared to previous visits.
“As you can see, what they are seeing today is a clear departure from what they saw a few months ago, which shows tremendous progress,” he said.
The commissioner disclosed that after the current NPFL season, with about 15 matches remaining, the state government planned to engage a reputable firm to consolidate on the ongoing renovation.
He further stated that one of his mandates was to reposition Nasarawa United Football Club as a competitive side both nationally and continentally.
Kwanta recalled that the club was at the bottom of the league table when he assumed office but finished strongly at the end of the season.
“I am happy to announce that since the beginning of the current league, we have been oscillating between first and second positions.
“Our commitment is to win the league, not just to qualify for continental competitions,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the administration’s investment in sports would leave Nasarawa State better than it was met, in line with Gov. Sule’s vision. (NAN)