Philip Shaibu Raises Alarm Over Decay of Nigeria’s Sporting Facilities

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports, Philip Shaibu, has expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of Nigeria’s sporting facilities, particvBqoÀularly the MKO Abiola National Stadium and other national stadia across the country.

Shaibu attributed the decay largely to the frequent use of stadiums for political and religious gatherings, urging authorities to end the practice.

According to him, stadiums were built primarily for sporting purposes, including the training, retraining and development of Nigerian athletes, and should therefore be preserved strictly for those activities.

He warned that the trend has left Nigeria with very few stadiums that meet international standards, noting that the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium currently remains the only facility in the country that fully satisfies the requirements of FIFA for hosting international matches.

Reflecting on his time in office, Shaibu said deliberate efforts were made during his tenure to preserve the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, especially the athletics track which was still under warranty with the contractor.

However, he noted that the situation changed following disagreements with former Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, after which approval was granted for singer Rema’s homecoming concert at the stadium.

According to Shaibu, the event allowed heavy vehicles and equipment onto the pitch and athletics track, damaging the facility and breaching the contractor’s warranty agreement, leaving the stadium unable to host international matches without major repairs.

He therefore called on the National Sports Commission of Nigeria and the Nigeria Football Federation to collaborate with the National Institute for Sports to protect and restore sports infrastructure nationwide.

Shaibu stressed that safeguarding stadiums across the country is essential for youth development and Nigeria’s long-term competitiveness in global sports.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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