President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work on the NFF-FIFA Players’ Hostel and new training pitches currently under construction in Abuja.

During an inspection visit to the site, located opposite the NFF Secretariat inside the MKO Abiola National Stadium, on Thursday, Gusau, accompanied by senior NFF officials, was conducted round the project by lead architect, Gambo Ahmadu.

Gusau, with Architect Ahmadu (second right), Olajire (third right), Abdulrahaman (third left) and Ayanbunmi (left)

The facility, whose groundbreaking was performed on March 18 this year, has a 24-month completion target. Gusau said he was confident the contractors would deliver on schedule, given their current momentum.

“I am happy with the pace of the work, the seriousness shown so far by the contractors, and the quality of the work as seen so far,” Gusau said.

“They have a 24-month mandate to deliver, and at the pace they are going, they should be able to complete the Players’ Hostel and Training Pitches on or before that timeline. This is a legacy project for our administration and very close to our hearts.”

Artist’s impression of the new pitches

The NFF boss and his team inspected the site of the new pitches, the old training pitch slated for extensive renovation, and the two-storey hostel building.

The ground floor will house offices and conference rooms, while the upper floors will provide accommodation for national team players and officials.

Gusau also requested a detailed progress report with photographs for submission to FIFA, noting that the project was approved at one of the first meetings of the current Executive Committee, with funding drawn from FIFA 2.0 residuals and the FIFA 3.0 programme.

He was joined on the inspection tour by NFF Director of Communications, Dr Ademola Olajire; Deputy Director of Competitions, Dr Ayo Abdulrahaman; Assistant Director of Protocol, Emmanuel Ayanbunmi; and Special Assistant to the President, Abubakar Danladi Umar.

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By KUNLE SOLAJA.

Former Lagos Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola has urged Nigeria to abandon outdated perceptions of sports as a hobby and embrace it as a full-fledged profession capable of transforming the economy.

Speaking at the University of Lagos during the presentation of Mumini Alao’s autobiography, Fashola traced how sports worldwide have evolved into one of the highest-paying industries, employing millions and rivalling traditional professions in income and prestige.

“Yesterday’s hobbies have become full-time, well-paid professions in today’s global economic order,” he said, noting that sports professionals now employ lawyers, doctors, engineers, and other specialists.

Fashola challenged Nigeria to invest deliberately in sports by integrating it into national planning, building community-friendly stadiums, training specialised sports educators, and securing arenas to attract families.

He advised that state governments should divest ownership of football clubs to private investors and supporters to boost governance, followership, and brand identity.

The former Lagos governor urged states to conduct scientific surveys to determine club branding—including names, colours, and cultural elements—while avoiding ethnicity and religion.

He recommended introducing financial safeguards such as minimum wages for players, insurance-backed salary guarantees, and strict bankruptcy enforcement to remove failing clubs.

Fashola further pointed out that Nigeria’s sports sector must prioritise planning over funding concerns.

“Workable programmes attract funding naturally”, he remarked as he cited Lagos’ past sports calendar of March to December, which included school sports, tennis, swimming, table tennis, and the famous Asoju Oba Cup, as an example that revived sponsorship from brands like FCMB, Etisalat, and Julius Berger.

He drew lessons from the late Gen. Henry Adefope’s tenure as chairman of the National Sports Commission, which he said transformed sports into a tool for national unity.

He concluded that good governance in sports was non-negotiable: “There must be no room for tardiness or uncertainty. Everyone must know where they stand at all times.”

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Babatunde Raji Fashola, former Governor of Lagos State, has called for a complete rethink of Nigeria’s football business model, warning that without structural reform, the country will continue to miss out on the economic potential of sports.

Delivering the keynote speech at the launch of veteran journalist Mumini Alao’s autobiography, Fashola argued that while Nigerian sports talents excel internationally, the domestic sports economy remains underdeveloped.

He highlighted gaps in infrastructure, sports media investment, and professional governance, noting that Nigeria has few dedicated sports TV stations compared to the 15 sports channels on South Africa’s SuperSport network.

“The story is not just about the sportsmen; it’s about the jobs created around sports — from reporters and producers to physiotherapists and nutritionists. We must build a system that works for them,” Fashola said.

His five-point reform plan includes public awareness campaigns, manpower development through education, transport-linked sports infrastructure, safety and security protocols, and strict governance standards in sports management.

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