The Kaduna State Government has officially taken over the Ahmadu Bello Stadium following the transfer of ownership from the Federal Government, a move authorities say will accelerate sports development and economic growth.
The handover was facilitated through the National Sports Commission led by Shehu Dikko and approved by Bola Ahmed Tinubu in what officials described as a decision taken in the national interest.
Governor Uba Sani said the transfer represents a major institutional milestone aimed at repositioning sports as a driver of economic activity, employment and social renewal. He noted that the stadium, commissioned in 1964, had not undergone the level of structural modernisation required to maintain its status as a top sporting facility.
According to the governor, comprehensive reconstruction is already underway, with plans to expand the stadium’s capacity from 16,000 to 32,000 seats. The upgrade is expected to make the facility the second largest in the country after the Moshood Abiola National Stadium and among the most modern sporting venues nationwide.
Sani said the redevelopment is designed to boost sports tourism, attract investment and create jobs while preserving the stadium’s role as a national asset accessible to Nigeria’s national teams and federal sporting programmes.
The National Sports Commission commended Kaduna State for aligning with the Federal Government’s sports transformation agenda, describing the takeover as a model that other states are beginning to adopt.
The governor expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, the Commission and other stakeholders for enabling the transition, stating that the renewed stadium would stand as a long-term symbol of partnership and public sector stewardship.
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