The National Sports Commission plans to invest N24,642,000,000 into the comprehensive upgrade of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja as part of the 2026 fiscal year. This significant funding originates from a total commission budget of over N203 billion, following President Bola Tinubu’s presentation of the “Budget of Restoration.”
The 2026 sports allocation represents a massive 300 percent surge compared to the N78 billion provided in 2025, signaling a major shift toward reviving the nation’s crumbling sports infrastructure.
National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko previously identified the end of 2025 as the starting point for these critical works to return the facility to international standards. Although the stadium underwent a private-sector-led renovation between 2020 and 2022 through a $1 million donation from Aliko Dangote, the playing surface failed to withstand regular use. The rapid deterioration of the main bowl’s pitch eventually forced the Super Eagles to abandon the capital city, relocating their competitive home fixtures to Uyo.
Specific line items in the 2026 appropriation bill reveal a strategic focus on technical and athlete-centered improvements. The commission has earmarked N18.77 billion specifically for the first phase of rehabilitating the main bowl, while N5.8 billion will fund the completion of a modern high-performance center.
Additionally, N65 million will provide high-speed fiber optic internet and local area network connectivity to transform the venue into a digitally equipped hub for national athletes.
These investments aim to rectify the failures that saw the national team lose 1–0 to Guinea-Bissau on the Abuja turf in early 2023. Following that defeat, former coach José Peseiro and several senior players openly criticized the uneven playing surface. By committing nearly N25 billion to the facility, the federal government hopes to restore the 23-year-old stadium’s status as the premier home for Nigerian football and continental sporting events.
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