Tuesday, June 7, 2026 - The Nasarawa State Government has banned the playing of football matches and other games within school premises, citing repeated damage to public facilities and school infrastructure.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on
Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, announced the directive during a bi-monthly press
briefing at the Nigeria Union of Journalists State Council Secretariat in Lafia
on Monday, July 6.
Ahemba said the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education
Board had abolished the use of areas within school premises for football
matches following repeated incidents of vandalism. “People come within the
school premises and begin to play football, and by so doing, it causes damage
to school facilities, including roofing and other infrastructure. That is what
government has abolished,” he said.
He clarified that the directive does not prevent pupils from
using designated football pitches within their schools. “The school football
pitch is there for pupils to play their own football, not inside the school
premises as witnessed in most cases.”
According to Ahemba, individuals and groups from outside the
school community will no longer be allowed to use school premises for football
and are instead expected to play at public stadiums. “People who come from
outside the school to play are kindly required to go to the stadium and play
their football there,” he said.
He disclosed that the state government had awarded contracts
last week for the construction of five mini-stadiums across Nasarawa to provide
alternative venues for sporting activities. Ahemba also directed school heads
to ensure strict compliance with the new policy, saying the measure is aimed at
protecting school facilities from further damage.
0 Comments