The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has intensified efforts to promote grassroots sports development with the construction of four five-a-side football pitches and four standard football stadiums across Zaria Federal Constituency.

The sports facilities, strategically located across the constituency, are aimed at providing young people with quality infrastructure for training, recreation and talent discovery.

The initiative is expected to further position Zaria as a hub for football development in Northern Nigeria while creating opportunities for aspiring footballers to develop their skills.

Residents and football enthusiasts said the facilities would help engage youths in productive activities, reduce social vices and provide a platform for identifying talented players capable of representing Kaduna State and the country at national and international levels.

Sports stakeholders also expressed optimism that the new facilities would encourage the organisation of community leagues, school competitions and regional tournaments, with attendant economic benefits for host communities.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Zaria Local Government Area, Engr. Muhammad Jamil Ahmad, has commended Abbas for what he described as his unwavering commitment to the development of sports in Kaduna State.

The council chairman gave the commendation while receiving a delegation of the Sports Committee, led by Hon. Magaji Alhassan, Senior Legislative Aide on Youth and Sports to the Speaker, during a courtesy visit to his office in Zaria.

Ahmad said the Speaker had continued to put smiles on the faces of young athletes through the construction and upgrade of sporting facilities in Zaria and its environs.

He also lauded Abbas for sponsoring 20 football coaches from Zaria to the National Institute for Sports (NIS) for professional training, describing the gesture as a significant investment in grassroots football development.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Alhassan said the sponsorship would enhance the capacity of the coaches and improve the standard of football in Zaria.

He noted that the Speaker remained committed to using sports as a tool for youth empowerment, social inclusion and community development.

Abbas has consistently maintained that investment in sports infrastructure is an investment in the future of young Nigerians, stressing that sports promote unity, discipline and national development.