₦airaland Forum

Senator Uba Sani @ubasanius

Today, We formalise a decision of enduring institutional consequence: the transfer of ownership and handover of Ahmadu Bello Stadium from the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the National Sports Commission ably led by Alhaji Shehu Dikko, to the Kaduna State Government, subject to agreed safeguards graciously approved by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in the national interest.

This milestone underscores our firm resolve to reposition sport as a disciplined instrument of economic growth and social renewal. Since its commissioning in 1964, the Stadium has not undergone the depth of structural modernisation required to sustain its status as a premier sporting arena. That era of deferment has now yielded to deliberate action. Comprehensive reconstruction is underway to expand capacity from 16,000 to 32,000 seats, positioning it as the second largest stadium in Nigeria after the Moshood Abiola National Stadium and among the finest of its kind in the country.

Our purpose is precise: to stimulate economic activity, strengthen sports tourism, generate employment, and attract investment. Beyond commerce, however, the Stadium will remain a shared national asset, open to our national teams, federal sporting programmes, and events of collective importance. Its gates will continue to welcome all Nigerians.

It is gladdening to add that the leadership of the National Sports Commission has commended Kaduna State’s prompt alignment with the transformation agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to establish sports as a viable economic driver. Kaduna has set a clear example; others are now embracing this strategic direction.

I extend profound appreciation to the Federal Government; our great leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the National Sports Commission, and all stakeholders whose diligence has enabled this transition. We are confident that the renewed Stadium will stand for decades as a testament to partnership, foresight, and responsible public stewardship.

Senator Uba Sani, CON
Governor, Kaduna State
February 26, 2026

https://x.com/i/status/2027161552181420123

Bashir Ahmad, OON @BashirAhmaad

The iconic Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna, is currently undergoing a comprehensive overhaul under the administration of Gov. @UbaSaniUS, transforming it into a modern, world-class sporting facility. When completed, the upgraded stadium is set to serve as a major football hub in the North and a potential home ground for @NGSuperEagles, bringing top-tier national matches closer to millions of passionate fans across the region.

https://x.com/i/status/2027405722112213034

Photos 1 and 2) Current view of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.

Photo 3) Proposed look of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium

Ozo-1 @OzoMusty

Governor @UbaSaniUS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding formalising the transfer of ownership and handover of Ahmadu Bello Stadium from the Federal Government, through the National Sports Commission, to the Kaduna State Government, following approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The Governor signed on behalf of Kaduna State, while Alhaji Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, signed for the Federal Government.

The Commission’s leadership commended Kaduna State for setting the pace in sports development for other states to follow. Governor Sani said the move will reposition sports as an economic driver. The 1964 stadium is undergoing a total reconstruction, being upgraded to FIFA standards, with capacity expanded from 16,000 to 32,000 seats, boosting sports development, tourism, jobs, and investment. #WorkingForKaduna

https://x.com/i/status/2027315860084236566

Background

There were certain stadiums that were designated as national stadiums when I was a kid. These were the National Stadium Lagos, the Ahmadu Bello Stadium Kaduna, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu and the Liberty Stadium Ibadan.

These stadiums were taken over by the Federal Government and the nigerian national teams played their matches there. Indeed, at a point during military rule, the Federal Military Government made an order that nobody should use these stadiums without permission from the minister of sports (I was wondering how the stadiums would make money if they were only used by the national teams).

These stadiums were also the main venues that Nigeria used when it hosted international events.

However, these stadiums fell into bad shape after 1999. The Federal Government had a lot on its plate (health, education, security, etc) and it couldn't spare the time and money to maintain these stadiums. Furthermore, most of these stadiums were built in the 1950s, '60s and '70s and they had become old and required upgrades which the Federal Government could not do.

The Federal Government developed a programme through which these stadiums would be handed over to state governments or concessionaires. The Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium was handed over to the Enugu State Government and talks began about handing over the Ahmadu Bello Stadium to the Kaduna State Government.

FG hands over Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium to Enugu govt
https://thenationonlineng.net/fg-hands-nnamdi-azikiwe-stadium-enugu-govt/

The Federal Government also wanted to hand over the National Stadium to the Lagos State Government and the LASG was ready to take over the stadium, but talks broke down because the Federal Government expected the LASG to pay to take over the stadium, while the LASG expected that it would take over the stadium for free, since it was in a bad shape.

The Liberty Stadium Ibadan and National Stadium Lagos main bowls have been in bad shape for a long time.

Hope they do better than the fg

Omo this is one of the best governor we ever had in kd oooo no cap I don’t like apc but during election my very close principled friends that voted pdp for presidential election told me they’re voting him because of his competence and I happen to meet him one night at sabo he came alone to a Christian dominated area all the street credibility was much which was unusual knowing the differences btw the Muslims and Christian’s in that region he came spoke to the boys for his then senatorial bids and was massively hailed by everyone that was when I knew him even though I didn’t send because I don’t really like anyone that associate with elrufai till that election everyone voted him shocking and pdp won the presidential elections he just pasted one of our areas in the kd south road wasn’t good he ordered for a construction of road immediately we didn’t know he was the one till months later as in he did it for no hype or election gain he shut his f ing lips about it and did more streets in the southern part of kaduna something that elrufai will rather die than do
Sir I will vote you over and over again

Thanks for this write up.El-Rufai na jagajaga

Macmoni:
Omo this is one of the best governor we ever had in kd oooo no cap I don’t like apc but during election my very close principled friends that voted pdp for presidential election told me they’re voting him because of his competence and I happen to meet him one night at sabo he came alone to a Christian dominated area all the street credibility was much which was unusual knowing the differences btw the Muslims and Christian’s in that region he came spoke to the boys for his then senatorial bids and was massively hailed by everyone that was when I knew him even though I didn’t send because I don’t really like anyone that associate with elrufai till that election everyone voted him shocking and pdp won the presidential elections he just pasted one of our areas in the kd south road wasn’t good he ordered for a construction of road immediately we didn’t know he was the one till months later as in he did it for no hype or election gain he shut his f ing lips about it and did more streets in the southern part of kaduna something that elrufai will rather die than do
Sir I will vote you over and over again

So the upgrade is to put Iron sheets on top of the stands and that all?
And use low quality sythetic turfs from china with over-head cost of the project reaching N180bn?
What do I know... Well, election is next year January

Macmoni:
Omo this is one of the best governor we ever had in kd oooo no cap I don’t like apc but during election my very close principled friends that voted pdp for presidential election told me they’re voting him because of his competence and I happen to meet him one night at sabo he came alone to a Christian dominated area all the street credibility was much which was unusual knowing the differences btw the Muslims and Christian’s in that region he came spoke to the boys for his then senatorial bids and was massively hailed by everyone that was when I knew him even though I didn’t send because I don’t really like anyone that associate with elrufai till that election everyone voted him shocking and pdp won the presidential elections he just pasted one of our areas in the kd south road wasn’t good he ordered for a construction of road immediately we didn’t know he was the one till months later as in he did it for no hype or election gain he shut his f ing lips about it and did more streets in the southern part of kaduna something that elrufai will rather die than do
Sir I will vote you over and over again

Elrufai na street fighter 🤣😅😂

Chai. Okay. Well, the Government is the highest authority in charge, so no wahala

I would say he is trying
Even the township stadium also known a s ranchers bees

He has recently renovated the stadium and all

UBA sani is trying

ThunderFireAgba:
So the upgrade is to put Iron sheets on top of the stands and that all?
And use low quality sythetic turfs from china with over-head cost of the project reaching N180bn?
What do I know... Well, election is next year January

Pessimists don show face, the renovation hasn’t even started, you are already wailing. Living a bitter life must be very difficult.

Macmoni:
Omo this is one of the best governor we ever had in kd oooo no cap I don’t like apc but during election my very close principled friends that voted pdp for presidential election told me they’re voting him because of his competence and I happen to meet him one night at sabo he came alone to a Christian dominated area all the street credibility was much which was unusual knowing the differences btw the Muslims and Christian’s in that region he came spoke to the boys for his then senatorial bids and was massively hailed by everyone that was when I knew him even though I didn’t send because I don’t really like anyone that associate with elrufai till that election everyone voted him shocking and pdp won the presidential elections he just pasted one of our areas in the kd south road wasn’t good he ordered for a construction of road immediately we didn’t know he was the one till months later as in he did it for no hype or election gain he shut his f ing lips about it and did more streets in the southern part of kaduna something that elrufai will rather die than do
Sir I will vote you over and over again

You're the first person that I've heard say such thing in Kaduna. Where do you reside in Kaduna?

Some people don't just know the right thing to wear, at the right place, at the right time.

A shadow of itself

I remembered ABS in nigeria 1999

This is the way to go.

It is a thing of shame and it hurts our national pride that only one stadium in the country is caf approved.

We need nothing less than six standard stadia in the country.

We already have the uyo and abuja stadiums , plus this kaduna own makes it 3.

I've seen the prototype of the bayelsa stadium and pray it is d exact replica when constructed.
The model for the one in abakaliki also looks good.

Lagos is working on the teslim Balogun stadium same for delta state with the warri township stadium.

Enugu state should step up the Nnamdi azikwe stadium same for rivers state with the Yakubu gown stadium then we are good

Campaign ground loading!!!!!... Nice game!!!

Macmoni:
Omo this is one of the best governor we ever had in kd oooo no cap I don’t like apc but during election my very close principled friends that voted pdp for presidential election told me they’re voting him because of his competence and I happen to meet him one night at sabo he came alone to a Christian dominated area all the street credibility was much which was unusual knowing the differences btw the Muslims and Christian’s in that region he came spoke to the boys for his then senatorial bids and was massively hailed by everyone that was when I knew him even though I didn’t send because I don’t really like anyone that associate with elrufai till that election everyone voted him shocking and pdp won the presidential elections he just pasted one of our areas in the kd south road wasn’t good he ordered for a construction of road immediately we didn’t know he was the one till months later as in he did it for no hype or election gain he shut his f ing lips about it and did more streets in the southern part of kaduna something that elrufai will rather die than do
Sir I will vote you over and over again

Everything is about religion to you. Because he fixed a road in your area and talked to your street boys he is now the best governor?

El rufai beats this man by far as long as infrastructure is concerned. Except you are a chronic hater.

In the north, Kaduna is only behind abuja in infrastructure. And i don’t think aside Lagos and PH there is any city that are better than kaduna in the south. All because of el rufai.

El rufai might not be a perfect person all round be he is the best governor kaduna state has ever had.

Everywhere just bam. At night you go dey wonder if na naija you de sef.

All the major roads in kaduna north are standard and well maintained. While 99% percent of the inner roads are tarred.

As for kaduna south, almost of the major roads are in good condition. While the inner roads might be the issue, el rufai has mentioned that the next governor is supposed of handle the projects in kaduna south because there won’t be enough time for him.

Dbegining:
You're the first person that I've heard say such thing in Kaduna. Where do you reside in Kaduna?

Didn’t you see him mentioning religion? Religion has clouded his head.

One thing I have observed is that the Southern Kaduna people are not different from the Hausa people they like to insult. Their reasoning regarding governance is entirely based on religion, nothing more.

El-Rufai was not even the bigot they love to paint him as; the man was just acting like a typical politician.

He mentioned that the only reason he focused most of his projects in Kaduna North and opted for a Muslim-Muslim ticket was that the Southern Kaduna people, who are predominantly Christian, didn’t vote for him. With the limited resources he had, he chose to focus his energy on the people who supported him.

Additionally, although I don’t support his Muslim-Muslim ticket (because it was very inconsiderate), he did his calculations and realized it would favor him more. He was not winning in the Christian-dominated zones anyway.

Besides, he mentioned that the next governor can pick up where he left off by focusing on Southern Kaduna. In fact, before El-Rufai left office, he began several projects in Southern Kaduna.

A quick question!

From your optics and rhetorics.....

Can a Christian/Christian ticket work in Kaduna?

Are you from Kaduna South or North? Cos he is the governor of Kaduna. You must extend your hand to all LGA, Senatorial District.

Lastly Gov. Sani Uba 8yrs will erase n dust everything about Mallam El Mencho ElRufa.

This should have been signed on the grounds of the stadium itself. Adds a sense of occasion and history. The US is master of stuff like that.

See wahala...as small as Kaduna township stadium (Ranchers bees stadium) they could not take care of it the Mimi stadium is a eyesore.....nah Ahmadu bello stadium they want to maintain...yeye dey smell..nah to dey give out for free for Islamic programs.Go see murtala square Kaduna Dem no fit maintain am.

Most of these stadiums were originally built bu regional governments.

Lagos:

The Lagos Executive Development Board, LEDB (the forerunner of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, LSDPC) was developing Surulere in the 1950s. Sir Mobolaji Bank-Anthony, a multi-millionaire businessman who was involved with the Olympic Committee, put a lot of pressure on the LEDB to build a stadium in Surulere to allow youths to engage in sports.

Chief JK Randle was made chairman of the fund raising committee and the Surulere Stadium was opened in 1958.

Lagos was to host the All-Africa Games in 1973, so the Federal Government took over the land, demolished the Surulere Stadium and built the National Stadium to host the event. That stadium was Nigeria's main stadium from the 1970s to the early 2000s.

Western Region:

The Western Region Government broke ground on the site for a new stadium in 1958. The stadium was completed in 1960 and it was called the Liberty Stadium in honour of Nigeria's independence. It was the main stadium in Nigeria in the 1960s (Dick Tiger fought championship matches in this stadium).

The Federal Government eventually took over the stadium.

The stadium was renamed the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium in 2010.

Enugu:

The ground in Enugu was the sports ground of the Railway Corporation in 1959. It was taken over by the Eastern Region Government which renovated it.

The Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium was eventually taken over by the Federal Government, but it was returned to the Enugu State Government in 2013.

Kaduna:

The Ahmadu Bello Stadium was built by the Northern Region Government in 1965. It was eventually taken over by the Federal Government.

wellmax:
Pessimists don show face, the renovation hasn’t even started, you are already wailing. Living a bitter life must be very difficult.

HONESTLY THEY'RE SO PATHETIC!!

naptu2:
Bashir Ahmad, OON @BashirAhmaad



https://x.com/i/status/2027405722112213034

Photos 1 and 2) Current view of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.

Photo 3) Proposed look of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium

Not bad. Gives a good alternative to Uyo stadium.

Would be nice to see another state do one for 40,000+ spectators.

Macmoni:
Omo this is one of the best governor we ever had in kd oooo no cap I don’t like apc but during election my very close principled friends that voted pdp for presidential election told me they’re voting him because of his competence and I happen to meet him one night at sabo he came alone to a Christian dominated area all the street credibility was much which was unusual knowing the differences btw the Muslims and Christian’s in that region he came spoke to the boys for his then senatorial bids and was massively hailed by everyone that was when I knew him even though I didn’t send because I don’t really like anyone that associate with elrufai till that election everyone voted him shocking and pdp won the presidential elections he just pasted one of our areas in the kd south road wasn’t good he ordered for a construction of road immediately we didn’t know he was the one till months later as in he did it for no hype or election gain he shut his f ing lips about it and did more streets in the southern part of kaduna something that elrufai will rather die than do
Sir I will vote you over and over again

Hellrufia na devil in human, extremist to the highest, na God de punish am now through the NSA

dreamxhaser:
Everything is about religion to you. Because he fixed a road in your area and talked to your street boys he is now the best governor?

El rufai beats this man by far as long as infrastructure is concerned. Except you are a chronic hater.

In the north, Kaduna is only behind abuja in infrastructure. And i don’t think aside Lagos and PH there is any city that are better than kaduna in the south. All because of el rufai.

El rufai might not be a perfect person all round be he is the best governor kaduna state has ever had.

Everywhere just bam. At night you go dey wonder if na naija you de sef.

All the major roads in kaduna north are standard and well maintained. While 99% percent of the inner roads are tarred.

As for kaduna south, almost of the major roads are in good condition. While the inner roads might be the issue, el rufai has mentioned that the next governor is supposed of handle the projects in kaduna south because there won’t be enough time for him.

Oga it feels like you’re a paid agent that man elrufai everyone knows him to be a devils incarnate if you say different you supposed to be checked even makarafi better pass that devil
Can you compare the current security situation in that state with that of elrufai’s ??
Even in terms of electricity Kaduna is doing better now, not everything is about religion oga I just stated a fact uba sani has more street credibility than elrufai, elrufai would likely be stoned if he was the one that came to sabo that night without security, in fact the only governor elrufai was better than was that dull one before him people hardly remember that man I think his name is something “yero” like people don’t even know that one elrufai only worked for the northern part and that’s pure fact he often discredited southern kaduna repeatedly and using fowl statements on that region that they didn’t vote him so he had nothing for them, elrufai is a power drunk demon people get easily irritated when he’s mentioned in any conversation including his Muslim brothers guy go make more findings there are countless things that man has done that makes him deserve more of the punishment he’s getting now.