The Lugbe community in the FCT Abuja is expected to get a modern football field courtesy of a multi-national construction company, Julius Berger Construction Plc.

Lugbe is a suburb situated along the Abuja airport road.

The Project Manager, Airport Expressway, Mr Brilla Peter, made this known while speaking to newsmen in Abuja.

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) had dislodged an illegal market operating at a buffer zone in Lugbe, and converted the premises to a football field.

The AEPB also concluded modalities to engage former Super Eagle’s Coach Samson Siasia to handle the new football team raised by the board in Lugbe.

Peter said that the project was part of the corporate social responsibility of the company on the airport road.

The German construction company was awarded the expansion of the airport road in 2007.

The project is to expand the expressway to four lanes.

Peter, who declined to mention the financial implication of the project, said the facility, when completed would be of an international standard.

He said that the gesture was also part of efforts to support the AEPB in the area of waste management in the FCT.

“This project is part of our corporate social responsibility and we have found it very necessary to support the AEPB in its efforts in keeping the capital city clean.

“We have established a good relationship with AEPB and we will continue to demonstrate and support them to achieve the task of waste evacuation and general city cleaning.’’

Responding, Alhaji Isa Shuaibu, the Director of the board, commended Julius Berger for accepting to develop a recreational facility for the people.

Shuaibu called on other construction companies to emulate what Berger had done, adding that the project was also an aspect of green economy in Nigeria.

According to him, this project is part of our environmental sustainable management strategy.

“I am happy that Julius Berger has chosen to develop this recreational facility for this community.

“I am calling on other construction companies to emulate Julius Berger in this drive to develop green areas in the FCT and to provide recreational facilities in the FCT.

“We are also very happy because the community is excited about this project and they have expressed much enthusiasm in this our sustainable management strategy.’’

Players of the new team mobilised to meet with the Julius Berger team, are between 12 and 15 years old.

Master Abdulsemiu Ibrahim, the Captain of the team, expressed happiness with the provision of a football field.

Ibrahim said that the community was witnessing such a people-oriented project for the first time.

He assured that the team would make good use of the facility and make the residents to be proud of it.