The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Aper Aku stadium

  • Buhari promises adequate security for poll

    President Muhammadu Buhari has promised to provide adequate security to guarantee the conduct of the forthcoming general election in the country.

    Buhari made the promise on Wednesday in Makurdi during the Presidential campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Aper Aku Stadium.

    He appealed to the electorate not to be intimidated by turning out massively to vote for APC candidates at all levels during the election.

    The president said the APC was the only party that has the capacity and political will to tackle challenges in the country.

    Buhari reiterated his commitment to improving agriculture saying that recent policies had already made the sector attractive.

    Read Also: Buhari arrives Makurdi for campaign rally

    Speaking on the fight against corruption, the president admitted that it was quite challenging but assured that he would not relent until the country is rid of corrupt elements.

    Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman, APC, said the primary role of governors was to encourage diverse groups in their domain to coexist peacefully.

    Oshiomhole, who advised the people to vote for the party’s governorship candidate, Mr Emmanuel Jime, said if given the mandate, he would pay salaries promptly.

    NAN

  • Ogunbote: Enyimba played excellently loss

    Gbenga Ogunbote, Chief Coach of Enyimba International Football Club of Aba, says his team’s performance against hosts Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi was excellent, in spite of a 1-2 loss.

    Enyimba could not hold on to a first half lead in the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Match Day 10 clash.

    Ogunbote however told newsmen after the match played at the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi that his team’s performance was “excellent’’.

    He expressed satisfaction with how his team played, saying “although we lost the match today against Enyimba, I can authoritatively say that my boys played well.’’

    Evans Ogenyi, the Technical Adviser of Lobi Stars FC, on his part also commended his team for their performance.

    Tyavkase Terbol scored the match’s winning goal in the 88th minute, after Anthony Okpotu had scored the first goal for Lobi Stars in the 70th minute of the match.

    Kennedy Uche had scored Enyimba’s lone goal in the 17th minute through a penalty kick.

     

  • ‘Upgrade Aper Aku Stadium’

    ‘Upgrade Aper Aku Stadium’

    The Governor of Benue state, Dr Samuel Ortom has appealed to the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung to use his good office to assist the state in the establishment of a national football academy and upgrade the Aper Aku stadium to international standard.

    Ortom stated in an interview that the state lacked such facilities where international activities can take place.
    He said: “We are soliciting that you kindly facilitate our hosting of national and international sports festivals as this will open our state to investors. We propose a partnership with your ministry to host competitions such as schools sports, sports festivals and inter-collegiate competitions. These activities will help in identifying talents, promoting recreation, tourism as well as physical fitness of our young people.”

    In the same vein, Dalung commended the governor for providing good leadership attributes to the people of Benue state despite huge challenges facing the state.
    “I am here to inspect some of your sporting facilities and that of the Federal Government and also to invite your excellency
    to invest more in sports especially those sports like basketball and volleyball which Benue state monopolized back in the days. Benue must come back and take the lead in these two sports so that Nigeria can be represented in these sports internationally.

    The Minister later visited the Macarty stadium which also serves as club house for Lobi Stars, the Aper Aku stadium including the main bowl, the abandoned swimming pool project, dilapidated Tennis and basketball courts, the APC headquarters as well as the NYSC camp at Wannune Benue state.

  • Aper Aku stadium’s turf excites Gov Suswam

    Aper Aku stadium’s turf excites Gov Suswam

    Governor Gabriel Suswam said with the upgrading of Aper Aku stadium he would ensure that world class football matches are played in Makurdi, to compensate soccer loving people of Benue state for the long absence of Lobi Stars football club from the state capital.

    Governor Suswam last Monday paid unschedule visit to Aper Aku stadium, where the grassing of the playing pitch and sand is completed, and told SportingLife exclusively that he was satisfied with the quality of the work done so far.

    Governor Suswam urged the contractor to round up work and moved to Akume Tongo stadium in Katsina Ala, the current home of Lobi stars and Oju local government for a similar job.

    The governor further gave the contractor the directive to commence work on the floodlight, score board, tartan tracks, dressing  rooms and toilets which are to undergo complete turn around.

    The governor who was later joined by his deputy, Chief Steven Lawani, who is the chairman of Lobi Stars  football club of Makurdi, and the vice chairman of the club Dominic Iorfa, who just returned from Brazil World Cup, all expressed pleasure at the  new playing pitch which they said would enhance quality of football.

    Iorfa, who was decked in Lobi Stars colour of black and white, said with the stadium, his players will showcase their football talent.

    The contractor handling the project Mr. Ebi Egbe commended the governor and the people of Benue state for the confidence they have in his company and said work would be finally completed on Saturday.

  • Unending controversy over Aper Aku stadium Makurdi

    Unending controversy over Aper Aku stadium Makurdi

    Today is exactly five years ago when Benue State government awarded the contract for the upgrading of Aper Aku stadium play pitch to Monimichelle Sports Facility Development Company.

    The contract was for upgrading from grass to astro turf in line with FIFA standard. The duration of the contract was for one year and the contractor promised to deliver in eight months with availability of funds.

    The stadium was formally handed over to the contractor while Lobi Stars Football Club relocated to Jalingo, in Taraba State, and later Bauchi, in Bauchi State before they returned to Katsina Ala stadium for their home Glo Premier League matches .

    Since five years ago, work on the playing pitch has remained at a snail speed, even though the coconut fiber and other materials are lying waste inside stadium, waiting for installation for a long period.

    The contractor and Benue State government are at logger heads while fans of the Makurdi side are being denied the opportunity of seeing their darling team in action year in and out. The contractor has maintained that unless his balance of money be paid in a dedicated account before he will complete the installation which would take less than one month.

    According to the contractor, he has suffered untold hardship during payment for procured materials that were shipped from abroad and has learnt his lesson.

    His fear is that once he completes the work, it would be difficult for him to collect his balance as the administration is winding up very soon.

    However, Benue State government, from the Ministry of Sports and that of Finance, would not accept such condition. According to an official, who pleaded anonymity told SportingLife that since 90 percent of the contract sums was paid, the contractor must first complete installation before the total balance.

    Nobody is ready to shift position. But those at the receiving ends are Lobi players and their teaming fans.

    Benue State coffers are also being depleted on weekly basis, with cost of playing home matches away from Makurdi. But with election year around the corner, not too long before Aper Aku stadium would be one among the numerous abandoned projects.

    Chairman, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Benue State chapter Uja Emmanuel appealed to both the contractor and Benue State government to set aside their differences and come to a compromise so that the stadium be completed before the commencement of the new League season.

    Uja Emmanuel stated that government should put the interest of the football fans above personally interest and for the overall development of the beautiful game which is king of all sports.

    The SWAN chairman stated that the economic benefit of Lobi stars playing at Aper Aku statdium cannot be over emphasised, with pet traders coming to the stadium to make brisk business during home matches.

    He appealed to Governor Gabriel Suswam to urgently intervened so that the staduim would be completed and Lobi Stars return to Makurdi.