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By Eche Amos

In a bid to promote sports development and provide a world-class facility for athletes, the Nasarawa State Government has announced plans to construct a mini sports stadium in Toto Local Government Area.

The proposed facility will feature about five hundred seating capacity for spectators, multi-purpose playing and training fields, and basketball and volleyball courts.

The Stadium will also feature modern facilities like locker rooms, showers, medical centre, administrative offices, floodlights for evening events, parking and accessibility spaces.

Speaking during the Site Inspection at Government Secondary School, Member representing Toto/Gadabuke Constituency at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Hon. Simbabi Mohammed Garba, said the project was his passionate request to Governor Abdullahi Sule to provide a hub for sports training and competitions, foster community engagement and social cohesion, develop grassroots sports programmes, host local and state events, promote healthy lifestyles and youth development.

“This is a project I conceived in 2014 before I became a legislator, and I am glad it has now gotten the approval of the Governor.

“We are here for a site inspection, to secure a more convenient setting for constructing the facility. We have now been allocated the Toto Central Primary School, a Government facility by the Onah of Toto and other stakeholders concerned.

“We are taking advantage of our proximity to both Abuja and Lokoja to construct this multi-purpose standard stadium so that those locations can also come here to carry out their sporting activities which will be a huge revenue drive for us and the State Government.”

He added that the groundbreaking ceremony will not take longer than expected as the Governor Abdullahi Sule-led administration places premium on the project and would do everything humanly possible to achieve it within a short period.

The mini stadium will serve as a catalyst for sports growth, community building, and economic development in Toto and surrounding areas.

The Inspection team comprised representatives of the State Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ahmad Yusuf(Director of Facilities and Stadium Management), and Eche Amos(Head of Public Relations Unit) while Dangana Nuhu represented the Nasarawa State Geographic Information Service, NAGIS, who collectively approved of the proposed site.

Earlier, the State lawmaker who is also the House Committee Chairman on Youth and Sports Development at the Legislative Chamber, had led the Inspection Team to the Palace of the Ohinoyi of Ogye(Onah), His Royal Highness, Alh. Muhammad Umar Azaki, to notify him on the development and seek his royal blessings.

The State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Jafaru Ango, will in the coming days, interface with Governor Abdullahi Sule to brief him about the development and plans to construct four additional sports facilities across selected areas in the State.