By Charles Muchoki | Africa Guardian
Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, announced that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision, Nigeria aims to establish at least six fully operational, FIFA-standard stadiums nationwide. Presently, the country faces challenges in maintaining even one stadium that meets FIFA standards due to poor infrastructure conditions.
Dikko emphasized that the Commission’s new approach prioritizes the renovation and maintenance of Nigeria’s sports facilities. He explained that his expertise in public-private partnerships (PPP) would guide a strategy to revitalize these venues. The goal is to ensure the stadiums generate revenue through private sector involvement, supporting continuous activity and upkeep.
“In the past, stadiums were designed with basic features—pitches, tracks, and seating—without considering complementary facilities like hotels, restaurants, and parks,” Dikko noted. “Today, we have over 2,500 hectares of land across the National Sports Commission’s facilities, which we intend to leverage as assets to attract private sector investment.”
The Commission’s objective is to have at least one FIFA-compliant stadium in each of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, allowing the country to be ready for international tournaments on short notice. Initially, the focus will be on fully activating Abuja’s stadium, with plans underway for a framework to enhance Lagos’s National Stadium as well.
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