The football community in Kebbi State has dismissed recent rumours circulating across media outlets and social media platforms alleging that the NFF/FIFA Goal Project in Birnin Kebbi is uncompleted and abandoned.
The Chairman of the Kebbi State Football Association (FA), Abubakar Chika Ladan, while conducting journalists around the facility, described the reports as false and misleading, noting that the project was commissioned two years ago by the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, Dr. Nasir Idris, in collaboration with FIFA officials.
He stated that members of the football family in the state came out in large numbers with placards to condemn the false allegations that funds were misappropriated or that the stadium was left unfinished.
According to him, the project was awarded at $1.8 million, which at the time was equivalent to about ₦400 million, emphasizing that the funds were judiciously utilized and that the project stands as a testament to transparency and commitment to sports development in Kebbi State.
The FA Chairman expressed appreciation to former NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, for his role in initiating the project, and reaffirmed the association’s unwavering support to the current NFF leadership under Ibrahim Gusau and the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.
Abubakar Chika further revealed that arrangements are already underway by the NFF to use the Birnin Kebbi Stadium for World Cup playoff qualification matches.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Kebbi State Chapter, Comrade Mansur Sanchi, called on the National President of SWAN, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin, to take necessary steps in addressing the spread of fake news and to caution those responsible for peddling false information.
