Chairman of National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko has revealed strong drive of new efforts being embarked upon by the organization to ensure Nigeria improves in terms of infrastructure.
Sports247 reports that Dikko further pointed out that infrastructural development is the next phase of focus the NSC is embarking on towards taking Nigerian sports to a higher level.
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Dikko disclosed as much while speaking at the Africa Running Conference, where he opined that installation and maintenance of high-quality facilities are central to the next phase of sport development in Nigeria.
“In our budget for the year 2025/2026, there is a major component for infrastructure development. Without infrastructural development, sports can’t progress. So, we hope the budget will work the way we planned,” Dikko said.
While revealing various edifices that the NSC is reviving across the country, Dikko also noted that handing over the federal government’s ageing facilities to states for direct control is yielding expected results.
“We are working with state governments to get infrastructure going. For example, Ahmadu Bello Stadium belongs to us, but we are partnering with Kaduna State Government and we are handing it over to them.
“The governor is doing a good job to get Ahmadu Bello Stadium to be the best of the best. They have almost demolished it and they are rebuilding it, they are spending over 40 billion to get it back.
“We are talking to the Oyo State Government to bring back the Awolowo Stadium. The same thing we are working with them and they’ll bring it back. It has already been approved.
“We are also talking with Bauchi State Government to bring back the Tafawa Balewa Stadium. We are going to hand over the National Stadium in Lagos to the private sector, who are working to get it back on track.”
He concluded by revealing that the NSC is looking into all categories of sports structures, without rating anyone too small or too large to handle within the limited funds available.
“We are all getting there. We are working to build not just major stadium but also smaller stadiums and community infrastructure across the country,” Dikko disclosed.
He posited that the NSC will also look up to private investors to play various roles in helping the commission to carry out its activities.
