Sports

Sen. Enoh Relentless in Pursuit to Rejuvenate Sports

Published

2 years ago

May 16, 2024

Joel Ajayi

Says Team Nigeria Will be Ready for Paris 2024 Olympic Games

In a resolute declaration, the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to rejuvenate and reposition Nigerian sports. Under the guiding principles of the Renewed Hope mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Enoh emphasized the ministry’s determination to propel sports in Nigeria to new heights of excellence and glory.

Highlighting the significant strides made thus far during a chat with his media team, Senator Enoh underscored the ministry’s dedication to building upon past successes to drive transformative change within the sports sector. Despite facing challenges, the ministry remains steadfast in its mission to catalyze the advancement of sports across the nation.

“Sports in Nigeria is undergoing a significant transformation, and we are fully committed to leveraging this momentum to drive positive change and achieve unprecedented success,” stated Senator Enoh.

Following the Confederation of African Football’s exclusion of Nigerian match officials from its 2023 AFCON list, Senator Enoh took decisive action by convening stakeholders and declaring a state of emergency on officiating. Through collaborative efforts, a roadmap to rejuvenate officiating in Nigeria was established, leading to the inclusion of Nigerian match officials in the pool for international competitions by the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) for the year 2024.

Senator Enoh’s proactive leadership was instrumental in ensuring a successful and controversy-free African Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, culminating in the team’s historic final appearance after 11 years. Additionally, Nigerian footballer Victor Osimhen’s crowning as the African Player of the Year marked a significant milestone, ending a 24-year drought.

Further accolades were bestowed upon the Senior Women’s National Team of Nigeria, the Super Falcons, who were honored as the Team of the Year in Africa at the 2023 CAF Awards. Their impressive performance at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand secured a top 10 global ranking for the team.

Nigeria’s dominance extended beyond football, with notable achievements at the African Games in Ghana, particularly in sports such as wrestling, boxing, and weightlifting, surpassing previous records and setting new benchmarks for excellence at the Games.

“Through collaborative efforts and strategic initiatives, we are laying the foundation for a brighter future for Nigerian sports. Our goal is not only to excel on the international stage but also to nurture a culture of sports excellence at all levels,” Senator Enoh remarked.

Enoh stated that the Ministry will continue to work hard to bring more private investors into sports, as this period represents the best time for injecting a new life into sports.

Looking ahead to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Senator Enoh expressed confidence in Team Nigeria’s readiness, with athletes securing qualifications across various sports and events. Notably, Nigeria secured four additional Olympic tickets in athletics following a successful outing at the World Relays Championships in the Bahamas.

“For Team Nigeria, the journey to Paris 2024 represents an opportunity to shine and make our nation proud. We are fully committed to supporting our athletes and ensuring that they have everything they need to excel on the world stage,” Senator Enoh concluded.

Senator Enoh assured that Nigeria will showcase its prowess on the global stage, leaving no stone unturned to ensure the success and welfare of its athletes.

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Sports

Gwagwalada Football Stakeholders Sue FCT Minister Over Withheld Information on Abandoned Sports Centre

Published

1 day ago

December 23, 2025

The Gleamer

The Gwagwalada Football Stakeholders, through their solicitors, have approached the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja over the refusal of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to grant them access to information under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

The legal action followed a formal request made to the Honourable Minister of the FCT in a letter dated 28 November 2025, seeking information on the present status of the Gwagwalada Sports Centre project, which has reportedly been abandoned for over 10 years.

According to the stakeholders, the request was made pursuant to Sections 1, 2, 4 and 7 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011. They stated that despite complying with the provisions of the Act, no response or information was provided by the FCT administration.

In the letter submitted through their solicitors, Babatunde Akintade Legal Consult, the stakeholders requested access to information relating to the status and contract details of the sports facility, also known as the Gwagwalada Mini-Stadium. They noted that the project falls under the jurisdiction of the Gwagwalada Area Council and has been “abandoned” or “stalled,” reflecting a wider trend of uncompleted grassroots sports infrastructure across the FCT.

The stakeholders emphasized the importance of the facility, citing its significant potential for youth development and community engagement in Gwagwalada. They are therefore seeking clarification and official documentation on the current state of the project, including details of contracts awarded and actions taken so far.

Speaking on the matter, the council’s solicitor, Barrister Babatunde Akintade, said the request was aimed at ascertaining the true status of the project, stressing that its prolonged abandonment has negatively affected football development in Gwagwalada and the FCT at large.

The Gwagwalada Sports Centre is reportedly one of six sports facilities initiated in 2015 that are yet to be completed nearly ten years later. The delay, according to the stakeholders, has forced youths in the area to rely on other sporting facilities that are either inadequate or not readily accessible.

The matter is now before the Federal High Court as the stakeholders seek enforcement of their right to information under the FOI Act and renewed attention to grassroots sports development in the FCT.

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