FG Promises Football Boost, Abandoned Stadia Revisited in 2026

The Federal Government of Nigeria has pledged to prioritise football development and address the issue of abandoned sports infrastructure across the country in 2026, according to Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, national secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Basiru, while in Morocco as part of a high-level delegation supporting the Super Eagles at AFCON 2025, said the government will brief President Bola Tinubu on the state of the nation’s sports infrastructure and urge action to revive neglected facilities.

The APC official emphasised the need to invest in football academies nationwide to discover and nurture young talent, saying Nigeria must do more to develop its athletes and football culture.

Basiru also highlighted that key federal stadia  including venues in Lagos, Ibadan, Bauchi and Kaduna — have fallen into disuse and will be included in the government’s planned rehabilitation agenda. He referenced the recent renovation of the National Theatre in Iganmu as an example of progress in restoring national assets.

Editorial

In nations where football is woven into the cultural psyche, the state of sporting infrastructure matters as much to the game’s future as the talent that emerges on the pitch. Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru’s declaration that the Federal Government will prioritise football development and revisit abandoned stadia in 2026 is more than a political promise it is a recognition of sport’s latent potential to shape identity, opportunity and national pride.

Nigeria’s stadiums once vibrant cathedrals of competition and community now stand in silent testimony to years of underinvestment and neglect. From Lagos to Ibadan and beyond, these arenas represent both lost heritage and unrealised promise. The caretaker of a nation’s sporting legacy cannot ignore such symbols they require intentional stewardship if they are to reignite the aspirations of players and fans alike.

Yet Basiru’s comments also touch on a broader truth infrastructure alone does not cultivate excellence. The real work lies in establishing pathways for talent, in investing in academies and in crafting an ecosystem where young footballers find vision as well as facility. The government’s willingness to bring these issues before the President signals a shift in narrative — from reactive maintenance to proactive cultivation.

For Nigeria’s footballing future to flourish, policy must be married with purpose, and rhetoric with result. Rehabilitated stadia must become platforms of progress, not monuments to nostalgia. Investments must reach beyond brick and mortar into the bones of the sport coaching, community engagement, youth programmes and competitive opportunities.

If 2026 is to be a year of genuine transformation, it will be measured not merely by speeches or signatures, but by the reverberating cheers that once again echo through refurbished stands, and by the young players who rise, fully equipped, to chase dreams long deferred.

Did You Know?

1. National Stadium Concession Plans The National Sports Commission (NSC) has previously outlined public-private partnership plans to revamp key stadia — including National Stadium, Surulere — into modern multi-purpose hubs.
2. CAF-Approved Facility Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Akwa Ibom is currently Nigeria’s only stadium listed by CAF as approved for international football matches.
3. Historic Stadium Revivals Several Nigerian states have undertaken stadium restoration projects, such as the reinstallation of the scoreboard at George Agbazika Innih Stadium, Ilorin, as part of broader renovation efforts.
4. Grassroots &amp Academy Focus Partnerships like the proposed Triple 44 Academy and NSC collaboration aim to transform neglected stadium sections into football facilities that can nurture young talent.
5. Infrastructure Backing Beyond Football Federal efforts to revive sports infrastructure are not limited to stadiums past initiatives looked at concessioning and upgrading multiple national sports venues to improve Nigeria’s capacity to host major events.