In a remarkable display of solidarity, the Nasarawa State Government continues to extend its support to its border neighbor, Benue State, by allowing Lobi Stars, the men’s football team of Benue State, to utilize the Lafia City Stadium as their home venue for the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
This gesture aims to reinforce the strong bond that unites the two states and bolster Lobi Stars’ performance in the league.
In a powerful show of unity, a delegation from the Nasarawa State Government, led by Hon. Jafaru Ango, the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, and other high-ranking government officials, paid a visit to Lobi Stars, affectionately known as the “Yes Father” Boys, during their evening training session at the Lafia City Stadium. The visit was organized in anticipation of Lobi Stars’ upcoming match against Abia Warriors FC on October 21, 2023.
Commissioner Jafaru Ango, addressing the team, underscored the shared historical, cultural, and ethnic ties that have linked Nasarawa and Benue States. He emphasized the significance of mutual support and the achievement of shared goals. The Commissioner expressed optimism that Lobi Stars would excel while playing their home matches on the Lafia City Stadium’s pitch and perhaps even make history by winning the league while utilizing a temporary home ground.
Commissioner Ango assured Lobi Stars of unwavering support and encouraged them to consider Nasarawa State as their home. He placed a strong emphasis on the value of solidarity between the two states and pledged to mobilize further support for the team and for Benue State as a whole.
In his own speech he said “Politics aside, Nasarawa and Benue States are one. We were all together before the creation of States, and you can testify to this by the mixture of ethnicities and cultures that exist in both States; you find some of your people here, so also some of our people there, as well as the cultures. We want to see Lobi Stars succeed and even win the League on our turf, which would be historic because not many teams could win the league on a make-shift venue. We are going to do more for Lobi Stars and Benue State here because a portion of our State’s Anthem talks about ‘passion, loyalty, peace and unity.'”
The Permanent Secretary of the Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Barr. Isaac Danladi corroborated the shared connections between the two states and the importance of providing Lobi Stars with a home venue. He recalled that Benue State had previously shown similar solidarity to Nasarawa State by offering the use of the Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi as a home ground for Nasarawa United and Nasarawa Amazons during the renovation of the Lafia City Stadium.
Captain of Lobi Stars, Daniel Atsaka, expressed heartfelt gratitude for the consistent support from Nasarawa State. He credited this support for the team’s robust performance in the league and pledged that it would serve as a motivating force, propelling them to surpass their previous accomplishments in the NPFL.
The visit by the Nasarawa State delegation clearly demonstrated the unwavering solidarity shared between the two states and their resolute commitment to supporting one another, especially in the realm of sports. The upcoming match between Lobi Stars and Abia Warriors FC at the Lafia City Stadium on October 21, 2023, is expected to draw a large contingent of fervent supporters and fans who will enthusiastically rally behind the home team.
This outstanding act of cooperation vividly illustrates the unity and brotherhood that bind Nasarawa and Benue States, as they jointly pursue excellence in various spheres, including sports.
