Federal Government Unveils ₦24.6bn Revamp Plan For Abuja Stadium

The latest intervention, approved through the National Sports Commission (NSC), will see a total renovation of the stadium’s main pitch and tartan tracks, along with upgrades to several key facilities within the complex.

This comes just a few years after the stadium underwent a major facelift between 2020 and 2022 under the Ministry of Sports’ Adopt-a-Pitch initiative, financed by billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote.

According to the NSC, the project will cover the rehabilitation of dressing rooms, the media centre, VIP and corporate suites, public address systems, security infrastructure, cooling and heating systems, as well as the restoration of the stadium’s roof membrane.

The Federal Government had earlier earmarked ₦24.6 billion in the 2026 budget for the wider structural rehabilitation of the facility through the commission.

Chairman of the NSC, Mallam Shehu Dikko, said the redevelopment aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of leveraging sports for youth empowerment, economic development and infrastructure expansion.

He explained that the upgrade would not only improve sporting facilities but also strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to host major international competitions.

As part of the project, a High Performance Centre will be established within the stadium complex. The intervention will also include the conversion of the existing 200-bed athletes’ hostel into a hotel-style accommodation, rehabilitation of the swimming pool and the construction of two additional training pitches.

Plans are also in place to install international-standard floodlights, electronic advertising boards and Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. The project will further provide anti-doping laboratories and enhanced sports medical facilities in line with global standards.

Director-General of the NSC, Bukola Olopade, described the initiative as a comprehensive sports ecosystem aimed at strengthening talent discovery and development nationwide.

According to him, the project is expected to create employment opportunities, improve athlete development pathways and boost Nigeria’s competitiveness on the global sports stage.

Beyond the Abuja stadium redevelopment, the Federal Government has also approved the construction of 20 mini sports centres across the country to encourage grassroots sports development, increase youth participation and create more opportunities for talent discovery at the community level.