The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko has hailed Ranchers Bees FC’s promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League as a landmark moment for Nigerian football, describing the club’s return after 18 years as both “deserved and symbolic.”
In his congratulatory message, the NSC boss praised the players, coaching crew, and management for orchestrating what he termed a “clear and deliberate revival,” restoring one of the country’s most historic clubs to elite status.
He reserved special recognition for Sadiq Umar, the Super Eagles and Valencia forward, whose investment and hands-on involvement have been central to the club’s resurgence.
According to the chairman, the seeds of this success were evident as far back as October 2025, when Ranchers Bees officials visited the commission to present their new kits and unveil an ambitious blueprint for the future, one anchored on building a world-class football academy and sustaining long-term growth.
He noted that the promotion arrived at a pivotal time for Kaduna, with the redevelopment of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium nearing completion.
The project, spearheaded by Governor Uba Sani in collaboration with the NSC, is expected to provide a modern platform to maximize the club’s return and unlock economic and social benefits for the state.
Beyond Ranchers Bees, the chairman also applauded the promotion of Sporting Lagos, Inter Lagos, and Doma United, highlighting the emergence of privately driven clubs as a positive shift for the domestic game.
He concluded that Ranchers Bees’ comeback is more than a sporting achievement, it is a catalyst for renewed optimism, capable of driving peace, unity, and economic activity in Kaduna while reinforcing the broader development of Nigerian football.
