The inaugural CAF Safe Stadium Initiative Workshop in Nigeria ended on a high note in Abuja on Thursday, with Dr Christian Emeruwa, Head of CAF Safety and Security, emphasizing the transformative potential of the initiative in revolutionizing stadium safety and security across the country.
Speaking at the conclusion of the event, which included participants from all 20 Nigeria Premier Football League clubs, Dr Emeruwa expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for their unwavering commitment to the workshop.
He described the initiative as a new beginning for managing safety operations in African football.
“A new dawn is taking place on the continent of Africa in managing safety and security operations,” Dr Emeruwa said. “For all the participants here, it is now your responsibility to carry the torch and make the little changes required for football in Nigeria to be played in a safe and secure environment.”
Dr Emeruwa underscored the importance of starting with achievable goals, highlighting specific areas such as competition zones, VIP sections, media spaces, and general spectator areas as critical focus points.
“While a one hundred percent turnaround may not happen overnight, taking incremental steps can solve seventy-five percent of our problems and, most importantly, prevent deaths in our stadiums,” he remarked.
The final day of the workshop featured a practical session at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, where participants engaged in hands-on training on crowd control and other key safety measures.
The session reinforced the theoretical knowledge gained during the workshop.
Certificates of participation were awarded to attendees, marking the workshop as a crucial step toward establishing safer stadium environments in Nigeria.
Dr Emeruwa’s call for incremental but consistent improvements resonates as a roadmap for achieving lasting safety in Nigerian football.
