The Federation internationale de Football Association(FIFA) and Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have commissioned the 1.18 billion US dollars mini stadium in Birnin Kebbi.
The mini stadium,sited along Birnin Kebbi- Kalgo- road started on the 21/9/2020,three years ago under the former Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.
While speaking during the commissioning ceremony, FIFA representative, Mr Solomon Mudege, Head of Development Programmes -Africa FIFA, said the edifice would continue to serve both male and female footballers in the state.
He said: “We are proud of this project and what it’s represent that, the people would have their own football facility that they can be use locally for their matches. It is a dream come to realization, positive development to the sports activities in the state.”
He added that,the FIFA would continue to support Nigeria just like they did in other African countries where they provided standard facilities.
Mudege disclosed that Kebbi State mini stadium was the fist one to be completed in Nigeria,stressed that, another one in Oborodo in Delta State would soon be completed to support, while another one in Abuja,which on the plan, could be use for international matches and camping of the national teams.
Mudege said that the FIFA had provided projects and operational cost fundings which is about $1.25 million per year for maintenance of facilities, payment of salaries, organising congresses, marketing, promotions, organising Coaches, and workshops.
In his few remark, Mr El-Hadj Wack Diop, Lead -Dakar Regional Office FIFA ,commended the state and NFF for supporting FIFA to completed the historical stadium in the state.
Earlier, the National President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau noted that the greatest problem in this part of the country was not football talent ,rather, non-availability of standard facilities for the footballers.
“Now that we are having this FIFA mini stadium here in Birnin Kebbi,our talented footballers will now have standard facility for their training and camping. In future,we want to have more of Zaidu Sanusi so that,once they succeed in abroad, more development would come to the country, particularly, Kebbi State.”
He thanked FIFA, Kebbi State Government for the support they rendered to the completion of the historical and first FIFA mini stadium in the Northwest region of Nigeria.
In his remark, Kebbi State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris, represented by the Head of Service, Alhaji Sufiyanu Garba Bena, who thanked FIFA for executed the project, disclosed that the state government provided four hectares of land for the project and paid N19m as compensation to the land’s owners.
He added that,his administration would continue to support sports development through the youths and requested that NFF and FIFA should use Kebbi State as venue for football league.
While speaking about the project, Chairman of NFF in Kebbi State, Alhaji Abubakar Chika Ladan, disclosed that, the four hectares of land was provided by the former governor of the state, and had paid the sum of N19 million as compensation to the land owners.
He commended the NFF President for having found the state worthy of the project stressed that,the stadium would continue to serve as main facility for the footballers in the state.