Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has announced an ambitious plan to completely remodel the historic Ahmadu Bello Stadium and transform it into a FIFA-standard sports facility capable of hosting international competitions.
The governor made this known during a courtesy visit by officials of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), led by its Director-General, Phillip Shuaibu, at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House in Kaduna. According to Governor Sani, the stadium, originally constructed in 1965, has outlived its original design and now requires a comprehensive overhaul to meet modern global standards.
He revealed that upon completion of the renovation, the stadium’s seating capacity would be expanded to 32,000, effectively doubling its current size. The governor added that the upgraded Ahmadu Bello Stadium is expected to become the second-largest stadium in Nigeria, ranking just behind the National Stadium in Abuja.
Governor Sani praised the leadership of the NIS Director-General, describing Shuaibu as a versatile and experienced administrator. He noted that the Institute had been largely inactive before Shuaibu’s appointment but has since begun a steady revival under his leadership.
Reflecting on their shared political history, the governor recalled working alongside Shuaibu during the struggle for the restoration of democracy in 1999 and commended his performance during his tenure as Deputy Governor of Edo State.
Earlier in his remarks, Phillip Shuaibu outlined the core mandate of the National Institute for Sports, which includes developing skilled manpower across Nigeria’s sports ecosystem. This, he said, covers the training of coaches, sports administrators, and paramedics to strengthen the nation’s sporting structure.
Shuaibu explained that since assuming office, he has focused on repositioning the Institute by setting up a 32-member high-level team tasked with shaping its future. The team, he said, developed a 10-year strategic plan, carried out capacity-building programmes, and established six zonal offices to improve coordination nationwide.
He disclosed that Kaduna would host the North-West zonal office, while Yola and Jos would serve as headquarters for the North-East and North-Central zones respectively. According to him, the South-South zonal office will be located in Benin City, with Enugu and Abeokuta designated for the South-East and South-West zones.
The NIS Director-General expressed appreciation to Governor Uba Sani for pledging to provide a fully furnished office to support the take-off of the North-West zonal office in Kaduna, describing the gesture as a significant boost to sports development in the region.
With the proposed stadium upgrade and strengthened institutional collaboration, Kaduna State is positioning itself as a major hub for sports development and international competitions in Nigeria.
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