The National Sports Commission (NSC) has reiterated its determination to modernise Nigeria’s sports infrastructure, naming hockey as one of the key areas set to benefit from a wider facilities overhaul across the country.
Quick facts
- NSC says hockey will be a major beneficiary of a nationwide infrastructure upgrade programme.
- NSC chairman Shehu Dikko met Africa Hockey Federation president Seif el Dine Ahmed in Abuja.
- The Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja is listed among early beneficiaries, including its hockey pitch.
- Plans include upgrading hockey pitches to international standards and improving school hockey facilities.
- Federal Government approval was disclosed for a National Sports Infrastructure Development Bond to help fund projects.
- Nigeria’s world ranking is stated as 36th, with second-to-fourth place finishes across Africa.
- German technical facilitator Michael Bierman stressed that facilities are crucial to unlocking Nigeria’s talent.
NSC chairman Shehu Dikko made the commitment during talks with Africa Hockey Federation (AHF) president Seif el Dine Ahmed at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja. The AHF leader attended with Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF) president Simon Obadiah Nkom and members of the federation’s board.
Addressing demands to refurbish Nigeria’s aging hockey venues—particularly through the installation of modern artificial playing surfaces—Dikko said the Federal Government has already begun plans to restore and upgrade sporting infrastructure nationwide. He pointed to the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja as part of a phased redevelopment plan, with the hockey pitch included among the first targets.
“You are coming at the right time,” Dikko said. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a massive development and restructuring of our sporting facilities. Our aim is to restore the Moshood Abiola National Stadium to the level it reached during the 2003 All Africa Games, and then go beyond that standard with more modern amenities.”
Dikko added that the NSC will bring in specialists to bring the hockey pitch up to international specifications, aligning the venue with the expectations of top-level continental and global competitions.
Funding and national rollout
The NSC chairman also revealed that the Federal Government has approved the creation of a National Sports Infrastructure Development Bond. The initiative, he said, will be pursued in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Debt Management Office and private-sector partners, with the objective of raising resources for sports infrastructure developments nationwide.
“We are not paying lip service to this project,” Dikko said. “We are conducting due diligence to ensure hockey pitches across the country are upgraded. We have also started rehabilitating Kaduna Stadium alongside the Kaduna State Government, and the hockey pitch is part of that work.”
Beyond stadiums and competition venues, Dikko insisted the infrastructure push will also reach grassroots sport. He said the Commission is committed to restoring hockey facilities in schools, noting that the sport once had widespread school-level participation supported by functional pitches.
“We are seriously revitalising school sports,” Dikko said. “At one time, almost every school had a working hockey pitch. We are determined to return to those good old days and improve on them.”
Ahmed argued that improved hockey infrastructure would enhance Nigeria’s chances of winning the right to host the next African Hockey Championships. Dikko welcomed the idea, framing it as part of the NSC’s broader ambition to position Nigeria as a destination for major international sporting events.
“The reason we are upgrading these facilities is because we want Nigeria to become a global sporting hub capable of hosting major international competitions,” Dikko said, adding that the programme is also designed to strengthen Nigeria’s domestic sporting ecosystem and further grow the country’s sports economy.
Dikko further praised Nkom for working with the Commission on the upkeep of hockey facilities. He stressed that sport development at national level depends on cooperation between government bodies and federations, arguing that outcomes improve when both sides share responsibility.
“Everything should not be left to the Federal Government. We are partners in this vision. If the federations succeed, we succeed; if they fail, we all fail,” Dikko said.
Ahmed, meanwhile, commended Nigeria’s momentum in hockey and suggested that better venues will help the country’s teams deliver stronger results across Africa and in competitions beyond the continent.
Rankings and technical support
Nkom said Nigeria currently sits 36th in the world and regularly occupies second to fourth positions within Africa. He presented those standings as proof that the sport is developing steadily even while infrastructure remains a challenge.
German technical facilitator Michael Bierman, who supports the NHF, said Nigeria has extensive hockey talent capable of competing in Europe. However, he underlined that players can only reach their full potential with the right facilities, making venue upgrades a key step for sustained progress.
