Alhaji Mamman Musa, Niger Commissioner for Youth Affairs and Sports Development says that the state government is committed to completing the rehabilitation of Bako Kontagora Stadium in Minna.
Musa said that the measure became necessary to enable Niger Tornadoes execute its 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) campaign at home.
The commissioner made this known on Saturday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna.
The state government awarded a N31million contract for the renovation of the stadium before the commencement of 2015/2016 season of the NPFL, but the job was not done.
This development had made the Niger Tornadoes to be playing their home matches in Lokoja during the NPFL 2015/2016 season.
NAN also recalls that out of the contract sum, N7 million was released to the contractor then and recently N1.6 million to continue the job.
NAN further recalls that Tornadoes, who concluded the 2015/2016 season of the NPFL in Lokoja was placed at the 11th position on the league table.
The commissioner said: “We are doing everything possible to make sure that we complete the rehabilitation of the stadium to Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) standard to enable our team play at home.’’
“We all know the challenges associated with playing all our matches away including the ones we are supposed to play at home.
“I am sure that Niger Tornadoes will start their 2016/2017 NPFL campaign in Bako Kontagora memorial stadium,’’ he said.
Musa said that ongoing work at the stadium had reached appreciable level as work was progressing at the football pitch, while rehabilitation of the dressing room was ongoing. (NAN)