The Nasarawa State Youth Empowerment Agency, NAYEA, formerly known as Nasarawa State Youth Empowerment Scheme, NAYES, on Friday, 26th December, 2025, unleashed a tour de force as they dismantled reigning champions, Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC) to recapture the coveted annual Governor Abdullahi Sule Inter-Security Agencies’ Unity Cup Football Tournament trophy in a dazzling display of footballing prowess at the Lafia City Stadium.
Against pundits’ pregame predictions, NAYEA went ahead in the 19th minute of the game through Mohammed Rabiu, before Galadima Aliyu increased the scoreline to 2-0 in the 47th minute.
Bilyaminu Jamilu compounded the Road Safety team’s woes with a third clinical finish to help the Nasarawa State-owned Security Outfit reclaim the title they last won four years ago, in the competition’s maiden edition.
Coincidentally, this year’s finale coincided with Governor Sule’s 66th birthday anniversary celebration, as he took to the stage to cut two majestic cakes prepared by Mrs. Rakiya Eche Amos, and General Manager of NAYEA, Alhaji Abdullahi Bala Likita, before an electric atmosphere charged by personnel of the various Security Agencies and sports’ spectators.
Governor Sule, presented the winners’ medals and trophy to the Captain of the new champions, NAYEA.
He also presented financial donations of Two Million Naira(N2,000,000.00) to the new Champions, and One Million Naira(N1,000,000.00) to the runners-up side, the FRSC, in addition to their various tournament-assigned prize money, as tokens of appreciation for their sterling performances, which he said has brought glory to their respective Agencies.
In his remarks, Governor Sule congratulated the new champions and runners-up team for the feat achieved.
He lauded organizers and the tournament’s success, attributing it to the total commitment of members of the Organizing Committee and participating Security Agencies as well as their unrelenting support.
“Let me thank the initiator of this tournament, my SSA on Sports Affairs, and Organizing Committee Members for deciding to hold this finale on my birthday.
“I thank every one of you for coming here to felicitate with me on my birthday. I pray Nasarawa State will remain peaceful, happy and united, the way we are going.
“In this tournament, everyone is a winner, regardless of how you finished, hoping that next year would even be more interesting”, stated the Governor.
He reinterpreted his poise to promoting sports development, emphasizing its potency in engendering unity, discipline, and camaraderie among security personnel, and projecting the State’s image as a hub of sporting excellence.
Debutants, Nigerian Air Force, thrashed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, by 5-2 to clinch the third-place play-off position.
Gomina Eshimutu of the Federal Road Safety Corps, emerged as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player; Abeson Junior of the Nigerian Air Force won the Golden Boot award with eight goals.
Emmanuel Babatunde of the Federal Road Safety Corps scooped the Best Goalkeeper gong, while Mohammed Ibrahim of NAYEA won the Best Coach of the tournament award.
Nasarawa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, in his goodwill message, congratulated Governor Abdullahi Sule on the occasion of his 66th birthday anniversary, and appreciated him for his relentless support to sports development in the State.
He promised to continue to exhaust every avenue to actualize the mandate of the Governor to the Ministry.
Proponent of the tournament and Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Sports Affairs, Comrade Hamza Ibrahim Moyi, expressed gratitude to the Governor for approving the hosting of the Inter-Security Agencies’ Football Tournament and making funds available for its execution.
He noted that the aims of the tournament were to foster inter-agency cooperation, improve the physical and emotional wellbeing of personnel to enhance professional performance, and strengthen the relationship between security personnel and the civilian population.
Twelve participating Security Agencies took part in this year’s edition of the tournament, including the Nigerian Air Force(NAF), Nigerian Army(NA), Nigerian Police Force(NPF), Department of State Services(NPF), Nigerian Immigration Service(NIS), Nigerian Correctional Services(NCS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC), Federal Fire Service(FFS), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Vigilante Group of Nigeria(VGN), and Nasarawa State Youth Empowerment Agency(NAYEA).
The grand finale was attended by notable personalities in the State, including Commissioners, Secretary to the Nasarawa State Government, Labaran Shuaibu Magaji(SAN), Member representing Nasarawa/Toto Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Abdulkarim Ari; Permanent Secretaries, including that of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Dr. Ibrahim Adamu Alhassan, Chairman of the State’s All Progressives Congress, Dr. Aliyu Bello; Aides to the Governor, Chairman of the Nasarawa State Football Association, Salisu Usman Galadima Basira, Heads of the various Security Agencies, among others.
*Eche Amos(Fellow, CBS)*,
Head of Public Relations,
Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
