By Oluwamayowa Fakande

The federal government has once again set its sights on revamping the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, with a jaw-dropping ₦12 billion earmarked for its rehabilitation.
This allocation, tucked into President Bola Tinubu’s ₦49.7 trillion “Budget of Restoration,” has reignited debates over the country’s handling of sporting infrastructure, especially after past efforts failed to yield lasting results.
The stadium’s decline has been a painful spectacle. In 2020, after years of neglect, the former Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, launched the “Adopt-a-Pitch” initiative, calling on private investors to rescue the crumbling facility.
Billionaire Aliko Dangote answered the call, pledging $1 million to restore the stadium’s main bowl.
The result was a cutting-edge playing surface featuring pure dynasty paspalum grass, a modern irrigation system, digital scoreboards, and a two-year maintenance plan under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
But within a year of its handover to the government, the once-pristine pitch fell into ruin.
Poor upkeep led to its rapid deterioration, forcing the Super Eagles to abandon it for Uyo’s Godswill Akpabio Stadium. Now, with another ₦12 billion allocated for yet another renovation, many are left questioning whether this will finally restore the stadium to its former glory or become yet another costly failure.
The sports commission’s financial commitments do not end there.
Alongside the stadium overhaul, funds have been allocated for new projects, including the construction of a sports secretariat, a National Olympic Committee (NOC), headquarters, and the procurement of official vehicles for sports federations and athletes.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), working with a ₦2.4 billion budget, has outlined expenditures on transport, equipment, and project monitoring, raising further scrutiny over spending priorities.
With past failures still fresh in the minds of Nigerians, skepticism lingers.
Will this massive investment finally deliver a world-class stadium, or is it just another grand illusion wrapped in government promises?