Niger State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello, has directed the immediate payment of 25 million Naira surety bond to the League Management Committee (LMC).
This is to allow the state’s Football Club, ‘Niger Tornadoes’, participate in the Nigeria Premier League.
Governor Bello gave the directive when he received Tornadoes FC and other sports associations at the Government House in Minna.
He said that both the Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development and his counterpart, the Commissioner for Finance, should ensure quick payment of the money.
The Governor commended Tornadoes FC for gaining promotion again to the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), the country’s apex league.
He said, “I have been following the progress of Tornadoes keenly and I promise that the team will be given all the needed support to perform credibly well and make the state proud.”
The Governor also told the team that despite the economic challenges bedevilling the state, the government will provide them with a bus for players’ comfort, considering the number of matches they would play.
He, however, bemoaned the poor state of sports facilities in the state, saying that he has already entered discussions with some groups for the state to have a befitting modern stadium.
The Chairman of Tornadoes Management Committee (TMC), Hon. Adamu Aliyu Mohammed, commended the State Governor for directing the payment of the surety bond, as well as the donation of a bus.
Hon. Mohammed told the Governor that some of the players that won the NNL Super 4 have been retained, while tested players who took part in 2015 NPEL have been brought in to make the club strong enough to stand the test of time.
Tornadoes will play their first match away to Plateau United, and will host Giwa FC in their first home match to be played in her adopted Confluence Stadium, Lokoja.
