The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Nasarawa State Sector Command, are the newest Champions of the 2nd Edition of Governor Abdullahi A. Sule Inter-Security Agencies’ Unity Cup Football Tournament, 2023.
The Safety Personnel defeated their Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC’s counterparts by 2-0 in the final played at the Lafia City Stadium before high-profile dignitaries and spectators.
After sizing each other up in the first-half, including a penalty miss by the Road Safety team, no difference could be made heading into the interval.
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However, Chidera Nduka made up for his side’s first-half penalty miss as he slotted the ball past the NSCDC’s Goalkeeper, Alakija Toyyib, from the spot after a foul on Ari Rabiu upon resumption for the second-half.
With the game approaching regulation time, things grew from bad to worse for the Civil Defence side after the FRSC increased their goal tally through Zakari Usman.
The scoreline remained unchanged until the full-time whistle as the Safety Personnel won 2-0, to emerge winners.
In the third-place play-off match, former Champions, Nasarawa State Agency for Youth Empowerment Scheme, NAYES, thrashed the Nigerian Army by 4-1 to end the tournament as 3rd overall best.
Governor Abdullahi Sule congratulated the new Champions as well as all the ten participating Security Agencies before presenting the winners’ trophy to the captain of the Federal Road Safety Corps amidst frenzied applause and celebration.
Sensational winger, Eshimutu Gomina, of the FRSC was presented with the Best Player of the Tournament award. Gangling striker, Bilya-Usman Abdullahi of NAYES scooped the Highest Goalscorer award after netting six goals in the tournament; Alakija Toyyib of the NSCDC picked the Best Goalkeeper gong after conceding only thrice in open play.
Nwankwo John(a.k.a. Bishop) of the FRSC won the Best Coach of the tournament.
The Nigerian Army was presented with the Fairplay Award while the duo of Abubakar Ibrahim of the Department of State Service, DSS, and Musa Gimba Agidi of the Nigeria Correctional Service, each got recognised with Medals of Honour.
Cash prizes and medals were given to each of the participating Security Agencies.
Organizers of the tournament equally presented Medals of Honour to Governor Abdullahi Sule, Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, Heads of the ten participating Security Agencies, including Major General HE Nzan(Commander, 4 Special Forces Command, Doma), Pius Goje(Deputy Director, DSS), Adamu Yahaya(State Controller, Nigerian Correctional Service), Dije Adamu(State Controller, Nigerian Immigration Service), Nwachukwu Eno Kelechi (State Controller, Federal Fire Service), Peter Odaudu(State Commander, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency), Ismaila Abdullahi(State Commandant, NSCDC), Corps Commander, Sabo Innocent Maigari of the FRSC, and Abdullahi Labaran Maina, General Manager, NAYES.
Some top Government functionaries and key stakeholders in Nasarawa State were also honoured at the event, notably Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Danladi Jatau; Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mohammed Oyanki; Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Jafaru Ango; Commissioner for Special Duties on Humanitarian Services and NGOs Princess Margaret Elayo Itake; Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Hon. Abubakar Imam Zanwa; Hon. Timothy Kasuwa, Commissioner for Special Duties on Security and Public Matters; House of Representatives Member representing Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency, Hon. Abdulmumuni Ari; Chairman of the State All Progressives Congress, APC, Hon. Aliyu Bello; Andoma of Doma, Dr. Ahmadu Aliyu Ogah Onawo; Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Youth and Students’ Matters, Rt. Hon. Shuaibu Sani; Chairman, Nasarawa State Football Association, Salisu Galadima (Basira), and former Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Halima Ahmadu Jabiru.
In their separate remarks, Commander, 4 Special Forces Command, Doma, HE Nzan, and Commander Peter Odaudu of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, praised the foresight of the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Sports Development, Comr. Hamza Ibrahim Moyi Awe, and Organizing Committee for initiating the competition.
They also commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for creating a harmonious working environment for the Security Agencies to carry out their official duties and for making adequate resources available for the successful completion of the tournament, requesting the Governor to expand the competition to the North-Central Zone of Nigeria with each State of the Zone featuring a team.
In his address, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Sports Development, Comr. Hamza Ibrahim Moyi, appreciated Governor Abdullahi Sule for approving funds for the tournament.
He said it was his desire to contribute his quota to the Sule administration and promote Inter-Agencies cooperation and collaboration for effective service delivery in the State that engineered him to initiate the tournament.
Moyi applauded the support of the various Security Agencies as well as their Heads which ensured a hitch-free tournament.
The Governor’s Aide equally thanked the Competition’s Organizing and Screening Committees headed by Hon. Haladu Akwashiki and Major E.D. Miebi for deploring their wealth of experience toward a successful tournament.
The 2nd Edition of the Governor Abdullahi A. Sule Inter-Security Agencies’ Unity Cup Football Tournament kick-started on Saturday, 30th December, 2023, with ten Security Agencies, namely, Nigerian Army(NA), Nigerian Police Force(NPF), Nigeria Immigration Service(NIS), Department of State Service(DSS), Nigerian Correctional Service(NCS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency(NDLEA), Federal Fire Service(FFS), and Nasarawa State Agency for Youth Empowerment Scheme(NAYES) participating.
