By Aderonke Ojo
Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, on Wednesday, presented official jerseys to twelve Security Agencies ahead of the commencement of the 4th edition of the Governor Abdullahi Sule Inter-Security Agencies’ Unity Cup Football Tournament, 2025.
The Commissioner, joined by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Ibrahim Adamu Alhassan, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Sports Affairs cum proponent of the tournament, Comrade Hamza Moyi Ibrahim, and Management officials of the Ministry, made the presentation to representatives of the participating Agencies in his office in Lafia, with a call on them to leverage the competition to build stronger relationships and enhance inter-agency collaboration in the fight against crime.
He emphasized the importance of unity and cooperation among Security Agencies in ensuring the safety and security of citizens in Nasarawa State as enshrined in the blueprint of Governor Abdullahi Sule.
“Governor Abdullahi Sule places high premium on security, which is why he is consistent in sponsoring this tournament in order to promote peace, security and protection of lives and properties of the citizens in the State.”
Kwanta added that engagement of security personnel in sports helps to promote healthy lifestyles and improve productivity at work place in the pursuit of a crime-free society.
Adding his voice, SSA to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Sports Affairs, Hamza Moyi, said this year’s edition of the competition would come with many mouthwatering rewards, including participation fees, medals, and trophies, stressing that an exhibition football match between the Nigerian Army versus the Federal Road Safety Corps to commemorate the 65th Independence Anniversary of Nigeria, and 29th Anniversary of the creation of Nasarawa State will be held on October 1, at the Lafia City Stadium, by 3pm, to herald the official kickoff of the tournament a day later.
Speaking on behalf of the representatives of the Security Agencies, Major O.M. Agu, Acting Assistant Director, Army Physical Training, Four Special Forces, Doma, thanked the Commissioner and Nasarawa State Government for initiating the tournament, stating that it would foster inter-agency cooperation, teamwork, and strengthen military-paramilitary-civilian relationshipwhile helping participants to showcase their sports skills.
He promised that the competition would live up to its essence.
The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, won the last edition in 2024, after beating the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, 2-0, in the finale at the Lafia City Stadium.
This year’s edition of the tournament will feature twelve Agencies, namely, Nigerian Army(NA), Nigerian Air Force(NAF), Nigerian Police Force(NPF), Department of State Services(DSS), Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), and Nigerian Immigration Service(NIS).Others are Federal Fire Service(FFS), National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Correctional Service(NCS), Nasarawa State Youth Empowerment Agency (NAYEA), and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria(VGN).