Gov Bago directs resumption of work on abandoned Maikunkele stadium — NSSC Chairman

Gov Bago directs resumption of work on abandoned Maikunkele stadium — NSSC Chairman

By Abubakar Hassan

Niger State Governor, Farmer Mohammed Umaru Bago, has directed the resumption of work on the abandoned stadium project at Maikunkele in Bosso Local Government Area of the state, Chairman of the Niger State Sports Commission (NSSC), Hon. Amb. Danjuma Abdul Masu, has disclosed.

Hon. Masu, who made this known in an exclusive interview, said the stadium project had remained abandoned for more than 10 years, adding that work on the facility was expected to resume next year.

According to him, the proposed stadium would have an initial seating capacity of about 10,000 spectators, with provision for future expansion, stressing that the project would complement the recently upgraded Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium in Minna.

The NSSC chairman described the upgrade of the Bako Kontagora Stadium as a major development for sports in the state, but cautioned that the facility must be properly maintained to ensure its longevity.

“We are lucky we have upgraded our stadium, but we have not gotten the fittest stadium that we can always beat our chest for. All we need to do is to be patient, focused and patriotic in safeguarding our one and only stadium,” he said.

Hon. Masu disclosed that the Commission would meet with the management of Niger Tornadoes Football Club to develop a working plan for the proper management and maintenance of the stadium.

He said having a modern sporting facility was only part of the responsibility, stressing that its effective management would ultimately determine how long it would remain useful to the people.

On the proposed Bago/Sani 313 Unity Football Competition for local government areas in the Niger East Senatorial District, Masu said arrangements for the 10-day competition had been concluded.

He explained that the competition was conceived as part of activities heralding the commissioning of the community sports centre provided by Distinguished Senator Muhammad Sani 313, adding that the tournament was expected to promote unity and grassroots sports development.

According to him, the Commission was awaiting the arrival of some sporting equipment, including volleyball and basketball upright stands, which had been ordered from China and were expected to arrive in September.

He said the Commission decided not to commence the tournament until the equipment arrived and was installed, to ensure the competition could run smoothly and continuously to its conclusion.

Hon. Masu expressed optimism that the championship would hold between the end of September and the first week of October, subject to the arrival and installation of the required facilities.

Speaking on some of the Commission’s activities, the Chairman also disclosed that Niger State athletes recently returned from the World Scrabble Youth Championship in Kenya with silver and bronze medals, while the state finished fourth overall.

He added that three Niger athletes were currently ranked internationally in tennis, while two weightlifters from the state were Commonwealth champions, noting that the Commission had also worked to bring back some athletes who had previously left the state.

Hon. Masu said the Commission was also preparing for the Inter-Primary and Inter-Secondary School Games scheduled for September, with zonal competitions expected to culminate in the finals in Minna.

On the forthcoming National Sports Festival in Enugu and National Youth Intermediate Games in Lagos, he said the state was already preparing its athletes, with elimination exercises for both competitions scheduled to take place in Jos.

He added that the football team had already commenced camping, while the Commission was intensifying preparations across the various sporting events to ensure that Niger State makes a strong showing at the national competitions.

Hon. Masu concluded by assuring sports-loving Nigerlites that the Commission would leave no stone unturned in its efforts to take sports to greater heights and make a mark in both national and international engagements.