Lawan commissions digital NTA station in Gashua, storms football tourney

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has commissioned the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) in Gashua, Bade Local Government of Yobe State. 
This was just as he graced the final match of football tournament sponsored by him in Bade, Yobe state.


At the commissioning of NTA station in Gashua on Saturday, Lawan  pledged to provide a bus, a Toyota salon car, an Outside Broadcasting (OB) van, and to undertake the furnishing of the NTA building to ensure efficient service delivery and facilitate smooth operations.
The newly commissioned station is part of efforts by the Nigerian Television Authority to digitalise community television across states of the federation. 


Amongst those present at the commissioning was the Chief of Staff to the Yobe state government, Alhaji Abdullahi Yusuf Gashua, who represented the Governor, Mai Mala Buni; the Director-General of NTA, Alhaji Yakubu Ibn Mohammed; and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Gashua, Prof Maimuna Waziri.
The Senate President who facilitated the project, expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for giving expeditious approval, and ensuring the timely release of funds for its implementation. 


According to Lawan, the project which was initially envisioned in 1991/1992, was finally realised 20 years later under President Buhari’s administration. 
He lauded the efforts of the Mai Mala Buni administration for partnering the federal government towards ensuring the successful completion of the project.  
“I want to pay special tribute to our President, Muhammadu Buhari, for making this opportunity possible. In fact, we are here today because the President approved for the funding of this project.

“And, I would like also to say, that this part of Nigeria has never had it so good like this time in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr. President, we are very grateful. 
“The state government has been doing quite a lot in this part of the state and, therefore, it is a worthy partnership between the federal and state governments that we are having these kind of projects,” he said.
On his part, the Director-General of the NTA, Alhaji Yakubu Ibn Mohammed, tasked members of Gashua community to ensure the protection of all infrastructures belonging to the station as well as secure the lives of staff.


At the soccer finals in Bade township stadium, attended by football stars like Tijani Babangida and Daniel Amokachi, former Nigerian Professional Players, Lawan, who arrived the venue in his motorcade to a cheering crowd at about 5pm, spared no time to get the match started in a show of skill which saw him effortlessly rendering a swift and powerful kick to the ball without suffering any hindrance from the traditional attire he adorned. 


The match between the two clubs which ended at a goalless draw resulted subsequently in a penalty shootout that had the Bade Academy F.C defeating Nguru ‘B’ F.C. with a 5-4 score. 
The winning club was, thereafter, presented with the Sardauna Bade cup by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan. 

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