Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) have commissioned the $1.18 million mini stadium in Birnin Kebbi to promote sporting activities.
The mini stadium, sited along Birnin Kebbi- Kalgo- Road, started in 2020 under the immediate past administration of former governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.
While speaking during the commissioning, FIFA representative, Mr. Solomon Mudege, Head of Development Programmes -Africa FIFA, said the edifice would continue to serve both male and female footballers in the state.
“We are proud of this project and what it represents, that the people would have their own football facility that they can use locally for their matches”, Mudege said.
He maintained that FIFA would continue to support Nigeria just like they did in other African countries where they provided standard facilities.
Mudege said the mini stadium was the first to be completed in Nigeria, pointing out that another one in Oborodo in Delta State would soon be completed. He said a third to be sited in Abuja was in the plan.
Also speaking, Mr. El-Hadj Wack Diop, Lead, Dakar Regional Office FIFA, lauded the state and NFF for supporting FIFA to complete the stadium in the state.
Earlier, the National President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau said that the greatest problem in this part of the country was not football talent but non-availability of standard facilities for the footballers.
Kebbi State governor, Dr.Nasir Idris, represented by the Head of Service, Alhaji Sufiyanu Garba Bena, commended FIFA for executing the project.
He said the state government provided four hectares of land for the project and paid N19m as compensation to the land owners.