The National Sports Commission (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to revitalising hockey in Nigeria through a comprehensive upgrade of sports infrastructure, with modern hockey pitches forming a key part of the initiative.
NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, made the commitment while receiving the President of the Africa Hockey Federation (AHF), Seif el Dine Ahmed, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Read Also: “Celebrate a Youth Today, Build a Nation Tomorrow” — Prince Saheed Akorede Kekere-Ekun Dedicates City People Award to Nigerian Youths | Sports247 Nigeria
The AHF delegation included the President of the Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF), Engineer Simon Obadiah Nkom, alongside members of the federation’s board.
Responding to concerns over the country’s ageing hockey facilities, Dikko assured stakeholders that the Federal Government had already begun implementing plans to restore and modernise sports infrastructure nationwide.
“The timing of your visit is perfect,” Dikko said. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a comprehensive redevelopment of our sporting facilities. Our objective is to restore the Moshood Abiola National Stadium to the standards it achieved during the 2003 All Africa Games and even surpass them with world-class modern facilities.”
He confirmed that the hockey pitch at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja is among the projects included in the first phase of the redevelopment programme and pledged that international specialists would be engaged to deliver a facility that meets global standards.
Dikko also announced that the Federal Government has approved plans to establish a National Sports Infrastructure Development Bond in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Debt Management Office and private-sector stakeholders to provide sustainable funding for sports infrastructure across the country.
“We are not paying lip service to this project,” he said. “We are carrying out due diligence to ensure hockey pitches across Nigeria are upgraded. Work is already ongoing at the Kaduna Stadium in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government, and the hockey pitch is part of that rehabilitation.”
The NSC Chairman added that the infrastructure drive extends beyond elite sports, with a renewed focus on grassroots development through the revival of school sports.
“We are seriously reviving school sports,” Dikko said. “There was a time when almost every school had a functional hockey pitch. We are determined to bring back those good old days and improve on them.”
Earlier, Africa Hockey Federation President Seif el Dine Ahmed said improved hockey facilities would significantly boost Nigeria’s chances of hosting the next African Hockey Championships.
Welcoming the proposal, Dikko said the Commission’s long-term vision is to position Nigeria as a leading destination for 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 while strengthening our domestic sports ecosystem and growing the nation’s sports economy,” he stated.
Dikko also commended NHF President Engineer Simon Obadiah Nkom for working closely with the Commission to ensure the proper maintenance of hockey facilities, stressing that sports development requires strong collaboration between government and national federations.
“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,” he added.
In his remarks, Ahmed praised Nigeria’s progress in hockey, expressing confidence that better facilities would enable the country’s teams to achieve greater success both in Africa and on the global stage.
Nkom disclosed that Nigeria is currently ranked 36th in the world and consistently occupies between second and fourth positions in Africa.
He described the achievement as evidence of the sport’s steady growth despite existing infrastructure challenges.
Also speaking, German technical facilitator Michael Bierman, who is supporting the Nigeria Hockey Federation, said the country possesses exceptional hockey talent capable of competing in Europe but emphasised that improved facilities are essential to unlock the players’ full potential.
