NFF President Commends Progress On Bako Kontagora Stadium Reconstruction • Channels Television

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, has expressed satisfaction with the ongoing reconstruction of the Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium in Minna, describing the project as a significant step towards restoring top-flight football to Niger State.

Gusau made the remarks during an inspection tour of the stadium alongside Niger State Governor Umaru Bago to assess the progress of work and determine its readiness to meet the standards required for hosting Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) matches.

He explained that the visit was aimed at ensuring the facility complies with the requirements for professional league football and commended the state government’s commitment to upgrading the stadium.

The NFF President expressed delight with the pace and quality of work on the project, assuring the governor of the federation’s full support towards achieving the objective of returning competitive league football to the state.

During the visit, the Chairman of the Niger State Sports Commission, Abdullahi Masu, presented the Bago Street Soccer and Youth Empowerment Programme to the NFF President. The initiative, organised by Zeus Sports Promotion in collaboration with the Niger State Football Association, is designed to identify, nurture and empower talented young footballers across the 25 local government areas of Niger State.

According to the organisers, the tournament will serve as a platform for discovering promising players, providing them with professional training and creating pathways for exposure to the international football community. The organisers expressed optimism that the championship would complement the Niger State Government’s youth development agenda by promoting grassroots football and creating opportunities for aspiring footballers to showcase their talents before local and international scouts.

Responding, Governor Bago said the Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium had outlived its previous state and required a complete transformation to meet modern sporting standards.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s determination to ensure that Niger Tornadoes Football Club no longer plays its home matches outside the state, stressing that the ongoing reconstruction reflects his government’s commitment to developing sports infrastructure.

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He noted that the scale of investment in sports facilities is unprecedented in the history of Niger State and pledged continued collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation to ensure the project is completed to the required standard.

Governor Bago also disclosed that the state government is considering the acquisition of properties surrounding the stadium to create additional space for future expansion and the development of complementary sporting facilities.

The governor later led the NFF delegation to the Ahmadu Bahago Sports Complex, where they inspected the football pitch currently being used by Niger Tornadoes Football Club as its temporary training base.

The inspection underscores the ongoing efforts of the Niger State Government, in collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation and the Niger State Sports Commission, to reposition sports development, strengthen grassroots football, and provide a befitting home ground for the state’s premier football club.