Moshood Abiola National Stadium to Be Fully Operational by End of 2025, Says NSC Chairman
The National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman, Shehu Dikko, has announced that the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja will be fully operational by the end of 2025 as part of a comprehensive plan to revive Nigeria’s dilapidated sports infrastructure. The statement comes in response to public outcry sparked by a viral video exposing the deplorable condition of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.
The widely circulated video highlighted decaying tartan tracks, crumbling stands, overgrown vegetation, and non-functional lighting at the Lagos stadium, a historic venue that hosted the 1973 All-Africa Games and the 1980 and 2000 African Cup of Nations finals. The footage underscored years of neglect, prompting renewed calls for urgent government intervention.
Speaking on Monday, Dikko assured Nigerians that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is taking unprecedented steps to address the decay in the sports sector. He revealed that funding has been secured for the renovation of the Abuja stadium, with work set to begin by year-end. “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.
The NSC chairman highlighted a significant increase in the commission’s budget, noting a 300% rise—the highest in 60 years. “This is the best budget for sports in 60 years. There is funding to fix other stadiums across the country and to start developing mini sports centers in communities nationwide,” he stated, emphasizing that the funds are targeted at key infrastructure rather than competitions.
Dikko also disclosed plans to concession major facilities to international partners to meet global standards and to develop “sports cities” around key venues in Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, and Ibadan. These ecosystems will include shopping malls, hotels, convention centers, amusement parks, and arenas to ensure year-round revenue generation. “It’s not just about building infrastructure—we are developing entire ecosystems around the stadiums so that these facilities can generate revenue 24/7, not just when a match is played,” he explained.
Criticizing Nigeria’s focus on international competitions at the expense of domestic development, Dikko pointed to the English Premier League as a model. “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,” he said. He stressed the need to strengthen Nigeria’s domestic sports industry to create a sustainable economic ecosystem.
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