Abuja Stadium to be Fully Operational by December: NSC Chair

The chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has announced that the Abuja National Stadium will be fully operational by the end of 2025. This development is part of a broader effort to revive Nigeria’s dilapidated sports infrastructure.

Dikko made this disclosure during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, amid growing public concern over the poor state of sports facilities in the country. He revealed that the Abuja stadium has secured funding for renovation and will be one of the first to undergo significant transformation.

“A few months ago, I was in London to bring in top stadium infrastructure companies. They were in Abuja last month. Hopefully, we’ll start fixing Abuja by the end of the year, and the stadium should be running at a foundational level,” Dikko said.

He highlighted the increased budget for the National Sports Commission, stating, “If you look at the budget of the National Sports Commission, it’s up by over 300 per cent. This is the best budget for sports in 60 years. The president (Bola Tinubu) has shown the first step. If you look at the funding given to sports, it’s not for competitions, they are clearly targeted at key infrastructures.”

Dikko also discussed plans to concession major facilities, engage international partners, and build sports cities around key venues like Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, and Ibadan.

“It’s not just about building infrastructure, we are developing entire ecosystems around the stadiums with shopping malls, hotels, convention centres, amusement parks and arenas, so that these facilities can generate revenue 24/7, not just when a match is played,” he explained.

The NSC chair criticized Nigeria’s narrow focus on international competitions while neglecting local development.

“The major problem with sports in this country is that we’re more focused on competitions. Everybody’s thinking about the Olympics or the World Cup, but nobody is asking what we’re doing in the domestic scene,” he said.

He cited the English Premier League as a model for revenue and economic advantage, stating, “England hasn’t won a major tournament since 1966, yet they’ve built the best football league in the world. Every weekend, three million people step out to watch football, imagine what that does for their economy. That’s what we need to replicate.”

Dikko also emphasized the need to address the country’s poor sports broadcasting infrastructure and announced plans to create a national e-sports federation to harness the digital space and tackle youth unemployment.

“We’re creating a federation for e-sports. It can employ millions and provide countless opportunities. With over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population being young people, this is where we can channel their energy and generate revenue,” he stated.

The NSC chair praised the ongoing Gateway Games 2025, highlighting its economic impact on small businesses and communities. “This is the best festival we’ve had so far,” he declared. “Gateway Games created wealth for small businesses, some people will be crying when the games end. We want to host as many events as possible.”

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