Dikko: Moshood Abiola National Stadium to Be Fully Ready by December

Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has confirmed that the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja will be fully operational by December 2025. Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Dikko outlined an ambitious plan for transforming Nigeria’s sports infrastructure and ensuring long-term sustainability.

According to him, the stadium upgrade is part of a broader strategy that includes the concessioning of major facilities and partnerships with international bodies to bring them up to global standards. He emphasised that the 2025 sports budget reflects a more than 300% increase making it the most substantial investment in six decades.

Dikko highlighted that the focus isn’t just on building stadiums, but on creating vibrant ecosystems around them. “These will include shopping malls, convention centres, hotels, and amusement parks,” he said, “so they generate income beyond match days.”

The funding will also extend to the renovation of other stadiums and the construction of mini sports centres across communities nationwide, signalling a holistic approach to sports development under the current administration.

Editorial

For decades, Nigeria’s sports infrastructure has been caught in a cycle of neglect and fleeting fixes. Shehu Dikko’s declaration that the Moshood Abiola National Stadium will be fully operational by December brings hope—but also scrutiny.

Let’s start with the good news. The increased budget for sports—up by more than 300%—is a historic step forward. In a country where sports has the power to unite and uplift, funding should never be an afterthought. The intention to create multifunctional ecosystems around stadiums is particularly progressive. Turning stadiums into 24/7 commercial and recreational hubs is not just a smart idea—it’s long overdue.

But ambition must meet execution. We’ve heard similar promises in the past that failed to materialise. A stadium fully operational by December is a tight deadline in a country not exactly known for speed in public projects. Nigerians will be watching closely not just to see if the stadium opens, but to gauge whether it meets the promised international standards.

What’s encouraging this time is the government’s focus on sustainability. The idea of malls, hotels, and amusement parks transforming these facilities into economic engines is exactly the kind of innovation that has worked globally. If done right, this could redefine the role of sports infrastructure in national development.

The real legacy won’t be just bricks and turf it will be how well these spaces serve athletes, fans, and the community for generations to come.

Did You Know?

1. The Moshood Abiola National Stadium, formerly known as the National Stadium, Abuja, was constructed in 2003 at a cost of over $360 million.
2. It has a seating capacity of 60,491 and includes a presidential suite, media centres, and a VIP lounge.
3. The stadium hosted the 8th All Africa Games in 2003—the largest multi-sport event on the continent at the time.
4. Nigeria’s 2025 sports budget increase is the largest percentage rise in the sector in over 60 years.
5. Shehu Dikko previously served as Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC), where he introduced reforms to improve domestic league standards.