SPORTS
Otti Approves Upgrade of Umuahia Township Stadium, as Construction of Abia Stadium City Progresses
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has approved the upgrade of Umuahia Township Stadium as a short term solution to Abia Warriors playing ground as work progresses on Abia Stadium City as a long-term answer.
Otti stated this while playing host to a delegation of the Nigeria Football Federation NFF, led by its President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau at Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South LGA.
The Governor, noted that he will continue to make sports development a topmost agenda of his administration to ensure that the state remains a major player in sporting activities at the global level.
While describing football and sports in general as a uniting factor, Otti added that governance and leadership is all about making a positive impact on the people.
“On the issue of the stadium, the Umuahia Township Stadium, not too long ago, I had given approval to upgrade the place and make the place what a stadium should look like,” Otti said.
Gov. Alex Otti in a group photograph with the NFF delegation.
“In the immediate term, we are going to upgrade it and make it a standard township stadium. We’ll do the futuristic one as time goes on.
“But that is a short-term solution we are trying to put in place. We have a long-term solution, which is the Abia Stadium City.
Gov. Otti flanked by the NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau and chairman of Abia Warriors FC, John Obuh
“The land for which has been acquired and work is going on right now with the design. It’s not just a stadium, but it’s going to be a stadium city. It’s a complex.
“We’re going to even have an entertainment village at the back of the stadium city. We’ll have plazas, we’ll have a conference centre, we’ll have a residential apartment, Gov. Otti stated.
The governor acknowledged the support of the NFF to his administration and assured that the State Government would sustain its support to the body.
He promised to do his best to ensure that Abia remains on top in various sporting activities and used the opportunity to congratulate President Bola Almed Tinubu on the recent performance of the Super Falcons.
Speaking earlier, the President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau said their visit was to congratulate Governor Otti over his support for sports development in the State, described Abia as the home of football in Nigeria.
He recalled that Abia State has remained the only State to win African continental competitions back to back in Nigeria, adding that the history of sports in the country cannot be complete without a mention of the state.
While acknowledging that Abia Warriors football Club under Governor Otti is one of 3 top clubs in Nigeria, the NFF President requested the fixing of the Umuahia township stadium and promised to provide the needed technical support to ensure that the club performs well in the CAF competition.