Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has unveiled an extensive plan to revamp sports infrastructure across Nigeria, with major rehabilitation projects planned for stadiums, training facilities, community sports centres and universities.
Key Highlights:
Major stadiums across Nigeria will be rehabilitated.
Abuja’s Moshood Abiola Stadium will receive major upgrades.
Over 60 community sports centres are planned.
Nine universities will get new sports facilities.
An Infrastructure Development Bond will fund projects.
Dikko disclosed this on Monday in Abuja, while speaking on the sidelines of a good governance seminar for presidents of sports federations in Nigeria, where he outlined the commission’s plans to improve sporting facilities and create better conditions for athletes and major competitions.
According to the NSC chairman, contracts have already been awarded for several major rehabilitation and development projects, describing the programme as one of the most extensive efforts to transform Nigeria’s sports infrastructure.
He identified the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, as one of the commission’s major priorities, saying the facility would receive comprehensive upgrades covering the playing pitch, dressing rooms, media centre, electronic boards, Video Assistant Referee (VAR) facilities, CCTV systems, public address system and roofing.
Dikko said the pitch would be handled by contractors with experience working on some of the world’s major stadiums like Real Madrid among others, while a pitch cover would also be provided to enable the facility to host concerts and other major events without damaging the playing surface.
He disclosed that new training pitches would also be developed, including facilities that could function as mini-stadiums for smaller sporting events.
Beyond Abuja, Dikko said the commission is working with state governments on the rehabilitation and development of sports facilities in Jos, Kano, Kaduna and other parts of the country.
He said the objective is to increase the number of stadiums capable of hosting major national and international competitions while ensuring that sports infrastructure is spread across different regions.
The NSC chairman also disclosed that the infrastructure programme would extend to the grassroots, revealing that contracts had been awarded for the development of more than 60 community sports centres across the country.
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According to him, the centres are expected to provide accessible sporting facilities within communities, including areas around primary and secondary schools.
Dikko further disclosed that the commission was working with nine universities to establish sporting facilities under a planned centres-of-excellence initiative.
He said contracts for the university projects have been procured, with the next stage involving the release of funds to enable construction work to commence.
The NSC chairman also revealed that the federal government had approved plans for an Infrastructure Development Bond, which could enable the commission to raise substantial long-term funding for sports infrastructure.
He said the proposed financing mechanism would help accelerate the development of sporting facilities across Nigeria and support sustained investment in the sector.
