Nasarawa bans football matches on school grounds over facility damage

The Nasarawa State Government has banned football matches and other sporting activities within school premises, citing repeated damage to public facilities and school property. Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, announced the decision during a bi-monthly press briefing at the NUJ State Council Secretariat in Lafia on Monday. Ahemba […]

The Nasarawa State Government has banned football matches and other sporting activities within school premises, citing repeated damage to public facilities and school property.
Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, announced the decision during a bi-monthly press briefing at the NUJ State Council Secretariat in Lafia on Monday.
Ahemba said the State Universal Basic Education Board has officially abolished the use of areas inside school premises for football matches.
“People come within the school premises and begin to play football, and by doing so, it causes damage to school facilities, including roofing and other infrastructure. That is what the government has abolished,” he said.
He clarified that pupils of a school can still use the designated school football pitch by the side, but not other areas inside the premises.
“The school football pitch is there for pupils to play their own football, not inside the school premises as witnessed in most cases.”
Ahemba added that individuals or groups from outside the school community are now required to use public stadiums for matches.
“People who come from outside the school to play are kindly required to go to the stadium and play their football there,” he said.
To provide alternative venues, the state government awarded contracts last week for the construction of five mini-stadiums across Nasarawa State.