The Nasarawa State Government has banned football matches and other recreational games within school premises by members of the public, citing persistent damage to school buildings and public infrastructure.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Public Affairs, Peter Ahemba, announced the directive during a bi-monthly press briefing held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) State Council Secretariat in Lafia on Monday.
Ahemba explained that the decision followed repeated incidents of vandalism linked to individuals using school grounds for football and other sporting activities.
According to him, the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (NSUBEB) has prohibited the use of open spaces within school compounds for football by people from outside the school community.
He said those using school premises for football often caused significant damage to facilities, including roofing and other infrastructure, prompting the government to take action.
Ahemba clarified that the directive does not affect pupils, who will continue to use designated football pitches within their schools for sporting activities.
“The school football pitch is there for pupils to play their own football, not inside the school premises as witnessed in most cases,” he said.
He added that individuals and groups from outside schools would no longer be permitted to use school compounds for football and were instead encouraged to make use of public stadiums.
“People who come from outside the school to play are kindly required to go to the stadium and play their football there,” Ahemba stated.
To provide alternative venues for sporting activities, the governor’s aide disclosed that the state government last week awarded contracts for the construction of five mini-stadiums across Nasarawa State.
He also directed school heads to ensure strict compliance with the new policy, stressing that the measure is intended to safeguard school infrastructure from further damage.
