Nasarawa Assembly inspects sporting facilities, vows to work closely with executive to revamp sector
….Declares state of emergency in Sports Academy Akwanga, summons contractor for explanation
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly Committee on Youths and Sports Development has begun an inspection of sporting facilities across the state, including Lafia, Akwanga, and Keffi, to assess their status and identify areas needing intervention. The committee members were accompanied by the Commissioner of the State Ministry of Youths and Sports, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, and his management team during this exercise.
This inspection is part of the state’s effort to upgrade and improve sporting facilities across the three senatorial districts of the State
The State Assembly team, led by Hon. (Alhaji) Mohammed Garba Isimbabi, Chairman of the House Committee on Youths and Sports, declared a state of emergency on the State Sports Academy in Akwanga due to poor facilities and learning conditions.
Addressing Journalists during an oversight visit, Isimbabi disclosed that the Committee had initiated inspections of sports facilities, including the Lafia Township Stadium and Youth Center in Lafia, where he lauded Governor Abdullahi Sule for renovating them to modern standards.
During a visit to the Presidential Lodge Lafia, the Hon. Mohammed Garba Isimbabi’s Committee emphasized the need to revitalize sports facilities as a means of generating revenue.
In Akwanga LG, he instructed the contractor responsible for the Akwanga Youths Centre to appear before the Committee and justify the neglect of the project despite significant financial investment.
The Assembly Committee was astonished to find that the State Sports Academy, which has a proven track record of producing accomplished athletes at the local, national, and international levels, continues to languish in a state of disrepair.
In view of this, the Committee declared a state of emergency on the Sports Academy to enable government give it urgent attention.
The Committee Chairman, Hon. Mohammed Garba Isimbabi disclosed that the State Assembly will promulgate law to legalize the institution to woo investors with the view to closing the deficit gap in infrastructure.
While In Keffi, the discussions among the inspection team centred on revamping the local government’s stadium and youths centre.
From Keffi LG, the team moved to Karu LG, where the authorities and the traditional institution advocated the construction of international stadium given the proximity of the area with FCT and its economic viability.
And when asked by Journalists whether Nasarawa State Government has the financial strength to construct international stadium, the Chairman, House Committee on Youths and Sports, Hon. Mohammed Garba Isimbabi said for sure government is capable.
According to him, “if the state government can construct flyovers in Lafia, Akwanga and Keffi, that cannot go beyond its powers.
In an interview after the inspection, the State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu disclosed that the ministry is fine tuning long and short time budget for Governor’s approval to resuscitate abandoned and dilapidated sporting facilities in the State.
Hon. Kwanta corroborated the position of Isimbabi that sports is no longer for entertainment alone but a business venture with huge revenue potentials.
He said Nasarawa State will not be exempted in utilizing the sector for the betterment of its citizenry adding that the ministry under his watch is matching words with action to achieve the best in the sporting industry.
During the visits, the team interfaced with Chairmen of the various LGAs and the traditional ruler of Karu.
