By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Philip Shaibu, has called for an immediate ban on political and religious activities at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium and other national stadiums across the country.
In a statement by his media aide, Ben Ogbemudia, on Thursday, Shaibu warned that the continuous use of sports facilities for non-sporting activities has significantly contributed to the deterioration of many stadiums nationwide.
According to him, these facilities were primarily built for the training, retraining, and development of Nigerian sportsmen and women, and must be preserved for that purpose.
The NIS boss lamented that the practice has left Nigeria with very few stadiums that meet international standards, noting that the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium currently remains the only facility in the country that fully meets FIFA requirements for hosting international football matches.
Recalling his experience as Deputy Governor of Edo State, where he supervised sports and the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Shaibu said deliberate efforts were made during his tenure to preserve the facility, particularly the athletics track which was still under warranty with the contractor.
However, he explained that the situation changed following disagreements with the former Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, which eventually led to the approval of the stadium for singer Rema’s homecoming concert.
Shaibu stated that the event allowed heavy vehicles and equipment onto the pitch and tracks, damaging the facility and breaching the contractor’s warranty agreement.
“Today, the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium can no longer host international matches unless major remediation works are carried out,” he said.
Shaibu, therefore, urged the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation to collaborate with the National Institute for Sports in protecting and restoring sports infrastructure across the country.
He also called for the immediate reconstitution of the board of the National Sports Commission to strengthen the management, maintenance, and preservation of sports facilities nationwide.
The NIS DG stressed that protecting sports infrastructure is critical to the future of Nigerian youths, noting that sports remain a major platform for youth empowerment and national unity.
According to him, the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for youth development and sports growth in Nigeria can only be achieved if the country begins to treat its sports facilities as strategic national assets.
Shaibu added that safeguarding stadiums and investing in sports development will not only help discover and nurture young talents but also restore Nigeria’s pride in international competitions.