The rehabilitation of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, will consume about ₦24.64bn from the ₦203.6bn allocated to the National Sports Commission (NSC) in the 2026 budget.
The allocation is part of a 300 per cent increase in Nigeria’s sports budget, rising from ₦78bn in 2025, as the Federal Government targets infrastructure upgrades and participation in major competitions. NSC chairman, Shehu Dikko, had earlier indicated plans to begin work on the stadium as part of efforts to revive Nigeria’s sports facilities.
Opened in 2003, the stadium has struggled with poor maintenance and was declared unfit for major matches despite renovations between 2020 and 2022. The pitch deteriorated less than a year after refurbishment, forcing the Super Eagles to relocate home games to Uyo.
In the 2026 budget, the NSC earmarked ₦18.78bn for the first phase of rehabilitating the main bowl, ₦5.8bn for a high-performance centre, and ₦65m for internet infrastructure at the stadium. An additional ₦15.5bn is set aside for constructing a sports secretariat within the complex.
Beyond infrastructure, the commission also budgeted ₦4.22bn for Nigeria’s participation in the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, ₦5.1bn for preparations toward the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, and ₦1bn for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Football-related competitions, including AFCON and other FIFA tournaments, are expected to cost ₦14.2bn.
