The Federal Government has unveiled plans to renovate the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, allocating ₦24,642,000,000 from the ₦203,602,968,852 earmarked for the National Sports Commission (NCS) in the 2026 Appropriation Bill.
The allocation is part of the government’s renewed efforts to revive Nigeria’s sports infrastructure amid a significant increase in funding for the sector.
In December 2025, President Bola Tinubu presented a ₦58.18 trillion “Budget of Restoration” to a joint session of the National Assembly. The sports sector recorded a substantial boost, with its 2026 allocation surging by more than 300 percent from the ₦78 billion approved for 2025.
Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, had earlier indicated that work on the stadium would commence before the end of 2025 as part of broader efforts to upgrade Nigeria’s sporting facilities to international standards.
Opened in 2003 during former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration, the Moshood Abiola National Stadium has in recent years been deemed unsuitable for hosting the Super Eagles and other major international competitions. This came despite a renovation carried out between 2020 and 2022 under former Sports Minister Sunday Dare.
Dangote’s $1 Million Intervention Falls Short
During the last upgrade, Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, contributed $1 million to rehabilitate the stadium’s main bowl. The project, implemented by local contractors, included installing 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 renovation failed to hold up, with the pitch deteriorating less than a year after it was handed over to the Federal Government. The poor playing surface forced the Super Eagles to relocate home matches to Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
The last international match hosted at the Abuja stadium was on March 24, 2023, when Nigeria lost 1–0 to Guinea-Bissau in a 2023 AFCON qualifier. Following the defeat, former coach José Peseiro and several players publicly criticised the state of the pitch.
Details of the 2026 Renovation Plan
According to the 2026 budget proposal, the NCS has allocated ₦18,775,000,000 for the first phase of rehabilitating the stadium’s main bowl. An additional ₦5,800,000,000 is set aside for completing a high-performance centre for athletes, while ₦65,000,000 is earmarked for internet bandwidth, fibre connectivity, and LAN/WAN services at the stadium and other national sports facilities.
The budget also includes ₦15,500,000,000 for constructing a new sports secretariat within the stadium complex.
Built at a cost of $360 million between 2000 and 2003 for the 8th African Games, the Moshood Abiola National Stadium has a capacity of 60,491 spectators. Its lightweight roof structure makes it Nigeria’s largest sporting facility, despite years of neglect and underutilisation.
Supporting International Participation
Beyond infrastructure, the NCS has also budgeted for Nigeria’s engagement in major international competitions. ₦4,222,800,000 has been set aside for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2.
Preparations for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles are expected to cost ₦5,105,337,650, while Nigeria’s participation in the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy is projected at ₦1,000,000,000.
In football, involvement in the recently concluded 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, the upcoming 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, and other FIFA competitions for both men’s and women’s national teams is projected to cost ₦14,200,000,000.
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