Sports
Abuja Golf Reporters Appeal to Wike to Reopen IBB International Golf & Country Club
John Ayodele
Golf reporters in Abuja have joined stakeholders in appealing to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Honourable Nyesom Wike, to reopen the prestigious IBB International Golf & Country Club for the good of the sport and the community.
The club, one of Nigeria’s most popular golfing facilities, has remained closed following a lingering leadership crisis that prompted the Minister’s intervention earlier in the year.
His decisive action, which included shutting down the club for renovation and membership review, initially received widespread commendation as a step towards restoring peace and order.
On April 5, 2025, Minister Wike reconstituted the club’s Board of Trustees (BoT), appointing Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal, as Chairperson, replacing Gen. IBM Haruna. Other members of the new BoT include Otunba Segun Runsewe, Mrs. Grace Ihonvbere, S.I. Ameh (SAN), Hamid Abbo, Admiral Victor Adedipe (rtd), Chief Patrick Chidolue, Mr. Ben Ikokwu, and Adumu Suleiman.
The appointments were widely praised as a measure to restore lasting peace among members.However, months after the closure, concerns have grown among golfers and staff.
According to investigations by one of the reporters, some members are struggling with their health due to the lack of regular exercise and access to the club’s facilities. Staff members have also lamented the loss of their source of livelihood, which has left many families financially distressed.
Indeed, the joy, happiness, and social connections that came with the club’s activities have been taken away, the prolonged shutdown is taking a heavy toll on both members and workers.
In a joint statement, the Abuja-Based Golf
Reporters appealed directly to Minister Wike: “We call on His Excellency, the people’s Minister, Mr. Fix-It, to please temper justice with mercy by reopening the club.
“This will not only help avert untimely deaths due to inactivity but also restore livelihoods and bring back excitement and joy to the community.”
They further urged the Minister to ensure urgent remedial work on the facilities to prevent total collapse and disruption of the club’s ecosystem.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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