NSC targets hockey revival as Dikko promises world-class facilities

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to overhauling Nigeria’s sports infrastructure, with hockey emerging as a major beneficiary of the ongoing nationwide facilities upgrade programme.

NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko made the pledge while hosting the President of the Africa Hockey Federation (AHF), Seif el Dine Ahmed, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

The AHF chief was accompanied by the President of the Nigeria Hockey Federation (NHF), Engineer Simon Obadiah Nkom, and members of the federation’s board.

Responding to calls for the renovation of Nigeria’s ageing hockey facilities with modern artificial playing surfaces, Dikko assured the visiting delegation that the Federal Government had already commenced plans to restore and upgrade sports infrastructure across the country.

According to him, the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja is among the first beneficiaries of the phased redevelopment programme, with the hockey pitch included in the initial phase.

“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 goal is to restore the Moshood Abiola National Stadium to the standard it attained during the 2003 All Africa Games and even surpass it with more modern facilities.”

He added that the Commission would engage top specialists to ensure that the hockey pitch is upgraded to international standards.

Dikko also disclosed that the Federal Government has approved plans to establish a National Sports Infrastructure Development Bond in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Debt Management Office and private sector experts to mobilise funding for sports infrastructure nationwide.

“We are not paying lip service to this project,” he said. “We are carrying out due diligence to ensure hockey pitches across the country are upgraded.

“We are already rehabilitating the Kaduna Stadium in partnership with the Kaduna State Government, and the hockey pitch is part of that project.”

The NSC Chairman further revealed that the infrastructure drive extends to grassroots sports, stressing that the Commission is determined to revive school sports by restoring hockey facilities in educational institutions.

“We are seriously reviving our school sports. 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,” he stated.

Earlier, AHF President Seif el Dine Ahmed expressed confidence that improved hockey infrastructure would strengthen Nigeria’s chances of securing the hosting rights for the next African Hockey Championships.

Dikko welcomed the proposal, saying it aligns with the Commission’s vision of transforming Nigeria into a hub 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 developing our domestic sports ecosystem and advancing the nation’s sports economy,” he said.

The NSC boss also praised NHF President Engineer Simon Obadiah Nkom for partnering with the Commission to ensure proper maintenance of hockey facilities, stressing that national sports development requires collaboration between government and sports 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,” Dikko noted.

In his remarks, Ahmed commended the progress Nigeria has made in hockey and maintained that improved facilities would enable the country’s teams to achieve even greater success on the continent and beyond.

Nkom revealed that Nigeria is currently ranked 36th in the world and consistently occupies between second and fourth positions in Africa, describing the achievement as evidence of the sport’s steady growth despite infrastructure challenges.

Also speaking, German technical facilitator Michael Bierman, who is currently supporting the NHF, said Nigeria possesses abundant hockey talent capable of competing in Europe but stressed that quality facilities are essential to unlock the players’ full potential.