Sports
FG To Lease Out 2 Stadia, Games Villa
Sports Minister Suleiman Yusuf, says the Federal Government plans to concession the two National stadiums in Lagos and Abuja under the new Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.
Suleiman told The Tidesports source in Addis Ababa that the proposed PPP would also include the Games Village, Lagos and some other sporting facilities in the country.
“I will work out the concession arrangement through a PPP to manage our sporting facilities in Lagos and Abuja.
“We will arrange a partnership with Taraba State Government on the Mambilla High Performance Sport Centre,” Suleiman said.
“The partnership will provide an arrangement for a private sector to manage the National Stadium, Lagos, the Abuja National Stadium and the Games Village, Lagos,’’ the minister said.
Suleiman, who is Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), said apart from managing the facilities, the arrangement would also ensure maximum utilisation of all facilities, currently rotting away.
On the High Performance Sports Centre in Mambilla, Suleiman said the ministry would partner with Taraba Government to make the centre functional.
“I will visit the centre and discuss partnership arrangement with Taraba State Government,’’ he said.
Suleiman said the ministry would also engage its counterpart in education to revive sporting activities, especially in private schools across the country.
“I have already discussed with the Minister of Education on the need to ensure that all private schools both primary and secondary have the requisite sporting facilities before they are registered,’’ Suleiman said.
He said one of the identified problems was that private primary and secondary schools were not under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education.
Suleiman said he would take the same initiative with the Federal Ministry of Housing to ensure that as a matter of policy, all estates fulfil a requirement of siting sporting facilities before they were approved.
He said in effort to revamp sports culture, especially among students and the youth, the Nigerian Sports Academy headed by Segun Odegbami, would revive the inter-state and intra-schools sports in the country.
“The academy will regenerate all sports, not only football. With this, we will revamp sports from primary to colleges and also in all institutions of higher learning across the country,’’ Suleiman said.
Tidesports source reports that Suleiman was in Addis to chair the 4th Conference of African Ministers of Sports, organised by the AU Commission.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
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