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POOR STATE OF FCT SPORTING FACILITIES: Special Appeal To BARRISTER NYESOM WIKE ( Minister Federal Capital Territory
The Honourable Sir, this Special Appeal has become imperative because of the present state of sporting infractures in the Federal Capital Territory, which has gotten to a stage that the attention of the Honourable Minister, should be called to it, to declare a STATE OF EMERGENCY on it.
Honourable Minister Sir, It would be an erroneous impression that the Federal Capital Territory has Sports facilities. We don’t have any in Abuja, because the MKO Abiola National Stadium is our National Sports monument.
Sports facilities that are owned, managed and controlled by the FCTA are really not beffiting the Federal Capital Territory, what FCT has as its Sports facilities are the FCT Sports Centre at Area 10 popularly called Old Parade Ground , the uncompleted Area 3 Sports Centre with only one football pitch which serves as the main hub of football activities in FCT.
Six uncompleted Stadia spread across the Six Area Councils in FCT.
There is therefore the need to declare an *EMERGENCY* in the provision of Sports facilities in FCT.
The Area 10 & Area 3 pitches host the League matches of over 30 football clubs in the Capital City. Area 10 playing ground was converted to such after the construction of the Eagles Square for National parades and activities. The ground is managed by the FCT Social Department.
The Area 3 astro turf playing pitch remains a legacy from hosting the 2009 U-17 World cup.
The beehives of activities at these two pitches are unprecedented, showing that the growing population in the capital city needs recreational facilities that will keep them fit physically and mentally. But, the facilities are not there.
For the avoidance of doubt, it would interest the Honourable Minister of FCT to know that the capital city has as much as six clubs playing in the Nigeria National League, and over twenty clubs in the Nigerian Nation Wide League Division One, and double that number in the Division Two of that League. At the state League level more than 70 clubs participate in the two divisions league yearly. These are minus the various local council leagues that are played at the six Area Councils. All these teams depend on only the two facilities that are provided at the Area 10 and Area 3 pitches. The facility are inadequate and poor maintained.
It may interest the Honourable Minister to know that the World over, that it is only Nigeria that her Capital city does not have a Premier League Football club. This is not for want of talents, neither is it there are no passionate individuals that can make it happen, but lack of spɔrting infrastructures that can host such activities. The 6 Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory are worst hit. None of the Area councils can boast of an edifice that can pass as a sport Centre in all the Area Councils. What we have are abandonded facilities which have now become the dwelling places for criminals and miscreants. Rodents and reptiles are comfortable occupying places in these facilities. It would not be out of place for the Minister to make further inquiries on why the facilities are still lying fallow years after we heard that the payments have been made in full. Our Action Minister can ask questions on why these facilities have been abandoned and certain persons called to give reports of their stewardship while in the office.
The most agonising aspect of them all is ways that the Area10 parade ground pitch is made available for grazing and various religious activities. These causes more harm to the facilities. Cow grazings can be done in other places, and not on the only existing playing pitch, where clubs spend millions of naira to maintain, to enable them get approval from the various league bodies to play in their leagues.
The Honourable Minister can spare time out of his tight schedule to visit some of these facilities in the main city and the Area councils to enable him have first hand information on them.
Developing these facilities will be of immense advantage to the FCT now, considering the security worries in the City. Because, if the youths are engaged, the residents of city can sleep with their eyes closed.
(PATRICK NGWAOGU (ODOGWU) was the former First Vice Chairman of FCT Football Association and Former Secretary of The FCT Coaches Association)
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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.
More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.
The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.
Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.
The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.
Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.
Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.
Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.
Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.
The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.
Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.
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