Sports
Sports Minister Organizes 1st FMSD National Council on Sports Meeting to Shape Future of Nigerian Sports
Joel Ajayi
The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has extended invitations to State Commissioners of Sports, government officials, sports federations, and relevant stakeholders to attend the 1st Federal Ministry of Sports Development (FMSD) National Council on Sports Meeting.
The meeting, themed “Sports for National Unity and Socio-Economic Growth,” is scheduled to take place from Monday, May 20, to Wednesday, May 22, 2024.
The inaugural council meeting since the ministry became the Federal Ministry of Sports Development will serve as a platform for stakeholders to deliberate on the future of sports in Nigeria and to discuss initiatives aimed at promoting national unity and socio-economic development through sports. The event will provide an opportunity for collaboration and dialogue among key players in the sports sector.
“We are pleased to announce the convening of the 1st National Council on Sports Meeting, which will focus on the critical role of sports in fostering national unity and driving socio-economic growth,” stated Sen. Enoh. “We encourage all relevant stakeholders to participate in this important gathering to contribute their insights and expertise towards advancing the sports agenda in Nigeria.”
Mrs. Tinuke Watti, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, alluded in the announcement the importance of engaging stakeholders in shaping the direction of sports development in the country.
The meeting will take place at the Old Government Lodge, located on Abakaliki Road, Enugu, Enugu State, with sessions scheduled to begin at 9:00 am daily.
Participants are urged to come prepared to engage in meaningful discussions and to share their perspectives on how best to leverage sports for the benefit of the nation.
Sports
Gwagwalada Football Stakeholders Sue FCT Minister Over Withheld Information on Abandoned Sports Centre
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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