NNL, NLO Fitness Test For Referees, Assessors begins in Kano

By Ado Salisu, Kano

This year’s Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Fitness Test and Seminar on new football laws for Referees and Assessors, began in Kano ahead of the 2025/2026 Nigerian National League, NNL and Nationwide League One, NLO.

Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had already approved hosting of the ongoing programme as part of his administration’s commitment for sports development in the state.

Acting chairman of the Kano State Sports Commission, Alhaji Ibrahim Umar Fagge said the Fitness Test, Lectures among others, would be starting with female referees and Assessors.

Alhaji Umar Fagge who doubles as the Vice President, Northwest of the Nigerian Referees Association, pointed out that so far the female referees had concluded fitness race test at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata and the successful runners would remain in the programme while losers would return to their respective destinations.

”Attendance was drawn from 19 Northern States and the FCT, while resource persons and major stakeholders include the President of the Nigerian Football Federation, NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau and his counterpart from the Nigerian Referees Association, NRA, Alhaji Sani Zubair are among special guests of honour at the occasion,” he explained.

The acting chairman commended the state government and the state Ministry of Youth and Sports for the support and cooperation.

He said the programme will run between November 7th and 17th, 2025 at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kofar Mata.

The acting chairman then said the annual mandatory evaluation for Referees and Assessors in the NNL and NLO categories is compulsory as organized by the NFF Referees’ Committee, to improve the quality of officiating in the Nigerian leagues.

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Umar Faruk declared the occasion open yesterday.