Uba Sani Revamps Ahmadu Bello Stadium to FIFA Standards

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani is fixing up the old Ahmadu Bello Stadium. The new stadium will hold 33,000 fans and have a FIFA-standard hybrid pitch. This is part of his plan to make Kaduna a top football hub in Nigeria.

The governor believes the reconstruction is needed to bring back the glory of Kaduna football. He mentioned that the stadium, built in 1964 with a 16,000-seat capacity, has fallen apart. He even needed President Bola Tinubu's go-ahead to take control of the stadium.

"As a government, it is our responsibility to bring back the glory of Kaduna State in the world of sports," Mr Sani said.

He also noted that the last CAF football tournament at the stadium was in 2016, when the Super Eagles played against Egypt.

Stadium Features

Governor Sani said the upgraded stadium will have 33,000 seats and a mix of grass and synthetic pitch, which he calls FIFA-standard.

Apart from the stadium, the governor is putting money into sports. He sees football as a way to boost the economy through hotels, transport, and other areas.

The governor’s sports revival plan is also reaching out to the state’s football legends. He kept a promise made 30 years ago to the members of Nigeria’s 1996 Atlanta Olympics gold-winning football team. He has given land to Kaduna-born members like Daniel Amokachi, Garba Lawal, and Emmanuel Babayaro. He also ordered that streets be named after other football heroes.

Mr Amokachi spoke after checking out the stadium project. He said that both federal and state governments had made many promises to the Olympic champions over the years but did not keep them for 30 years.

He thanked Mr Sani for finally fulfilling the promise. Mr Lawal described the new stadium as a world-class venue. He said it would save the Super Eagles the trip to Uyo for training.

Mr Babayaro also praised the governor. He said the governor has done well in uniting Kaduna’s football community and bringing back the excitement that the sport once had in the state.