Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, on Tuesday, inspected the ongoing renovation works at the Lafia City Stadium, where the playing turf is being replaced ahead of the kick-off of the 2026/27 Nigeria Football Season.
The Deputy Governor’s visit focused on the quality and timeline of the new turf installation.
Received on ground by the State’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development and Coordinating Commissioner for the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, alongside Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Dr. Stephen Iliya Sasetu, and Director of Facilities and Stadia Management, Ahmad Yusuf, Akabe said he was impressed with the progress of work, assuring that the facility will meet league standards and be ready to host matches at the commencement of the new football league campaign.
Speaking earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Alansmith Nigeria Limited, the Company contracted to execute the project, Joshua Adamu, stated that the installation of long lasting, quality hybrid turf will commence before the end of this week, assuring that the task will be completed before the commencement of the 2026/27 NPFL Season.
He disclosed that materials for the field are available and will be transported to Lafia on Thursday this week.
Nasarawa United will kickstart their first home game of the new campaign against Bendel Insurance of Benin on 6th September, 2026, after returning from their match-day one clash versus Barau FC in Kano on 30th August, 2026.
The Solid Miners finished 6th overall on the final table of the 2025/26 twenty-team Nigeria Premier Football League campaign, but look set to outperform that position this coming season.
Shortly after the inspection visit, the Commissioner, Kwanta Yakubu, led the Deputy Governor, Dr. Akabe, to join hundreds of youth of the State on a road walk sensitization facilitated by the Society for Family Health, to commemorate this year’s International Youth Day Celebration.
Addressing the participants, comprising mostly youth groups from across the State under the umbrella of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, the Deputy Governor congratulated them on the occasion of the anniversary celebration, urging them to embrace healthy lifestyles, stressing that “a healthy youth population is the bedrock of a wealthy nation.”
He stated that Governor Abdullahi Sule and the Nasarawa State Government would continue to provide enabling environments to support young people in achieving their set goals.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner, Kwanta Yakubu, said the twin engagements underscored the State Government’s commitment to sports development and youth empowerment as key drivers of growth.
Activities marking this year’s celebration of the International Youth Day in the State will climax on Thursday, 20th August, 2026, at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lafia, by 10am, with the Commissioner, Kwanta Yakubu, designated to represent Governor Abdullahi Sule, at the function.
12th of every August is set aside to mark the International Youth Day around the globe.
