The Federal Government has proposed an upgrade of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, which is expected to gulp a total of ₦24,642,000,000 from the ₦203,602,968,852 budget allocated to the National Sports Commission (NCS) in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
Naijaonpoint understands that the allocation forms part of the Federal Government’s renewed push to revive Nigeria’s ailing sports infrastructure amid a sharp increase in funding for the sector.
President Bola Tinubu had, in December 2025, presented a ₦58.18tn “Budget of Restoration” to a joint session of the National Assembly. Under the proposal, the sports sector recorded a massive boost, with the 2026 allocation rising by over 300 per cent from the ₦78 billion approved in the 2025 fiscal year.
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, had earlier disclosed that work on the national stadium was expected to commence before the end of 2025, as part of broader efforts to restore Nigeria’s sporting facilities to international standards.
Opened in 2003 during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Moshood Abiola National Stadium has, in recent years, been declared unfit to host the Super Eagles and other major international competitions.
This was despite a renovation exercise carried out between 2020 and 2022 under former Sports Minister, Sunday Dare.
Dangote’s $1m Intervention, Failed Facelift
During the last renovation, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, committed $1 million towards the rehabilitation of the stadium’s main bowl.
The project, executed by local contractors, involved the installation of Pure Dynasty Paspalum grass, two digital scoreboards, 24 sprinklers, nursery beds and a two-year maintenance plan under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement.
However, the facelift failed to stand the test of time as the pitch deteriorated less than a year after it was handed over to the Federal Government.
The poor state of the playing surface forced the Super Eagles to relocate their home matches to the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
Nigeria last played at the Abuja stadium on March 24, 2023, when the Super Eagles lost 1–0 to Guinea-Bissau in a 2023 AFCON qualifier. Following the defeat, former coach José Peseiro and several players openly criticised the condition of the pitch.
According to details of the 2026 budget proposal, the NCS earmarked ₦18,775,000,000 for the first phase of the rehabilitation and upgrading of the stadium’s main bowl.
An additional ₦5,800,000,000 was allocated for the completion of a high-performance centre for athletes, while ₦65,000,000 was set aside for the provision of internet bandwidth, optic fibre connectivity, and LAN/WAN services at the stadium and other critical national sports facilities.
The budget also includes ₦15,500,000,000 for the construction of a new sports secretariat within the stadium complex.
Constructed at a cost of $360m between 2000 and 2003 for the 8th African Games held in October 2003, the Moshood Abiola National Stadium was designed to accommodate 60,491 spectators.
The arena is covered by a lightweight roof construction and remains Nigeria’s largest sporting facility, despite years of neglect and underutilisation.
Beyond infrastructure, the NSC also made provisions for Nigeria’s participation in major international competitions.
The Commission earmarked ₦4,222,800,000 for Nigeria’s participation in the 2026 Commonwealth Games scheduled to hold in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2.
Ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, the NSC plans to spend ₦5,105,337,650 on intensified preparations, while participation in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy is projected to cost ₦1,000,000,000.
In football, Nigeria’s participation in the recently concluded 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the upcoming 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and other FIFA competitions involving the men’s and women’s national teams is expected to cost ₦14,200,000,000.