NFF-FIFA Players Hotel Project Aligns With NSC’s Sportcity Vision‐ Dikko
Exciting times really lie ahead for Nigerian Sports with the anticipated Sports City project of the National Sports Commission starting off with the MKO Abiola National Stadium Abuja.
At the groundbreaking ceremony for the NFF-FIFA Players Hotel and new training pitches, National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko pointed out that the project couldn’t have come at a more auspicious time as it aligns with the Commission’s Sports City vision.
Mallam Shehu Dikko said, “This project is coming at the right time when there is a change of mindset in our sports. We have reached a very conclusive stage on how to turn this entire complex into a Sports City with hotels, conference centers, hospital, shopping malls, entertainment and restaurants, offices, residences and whatever you will need in a city. So this project is aligning to that vision.”
Mallam Dikko nostalgically recounted his experience as Manager of the FIFA Goal Project in 2003.
His words, “It’s personally an exciting day for me. This is like a legacy of 22 years ago coming to fruition. In 2003, I was the FIFA Goal Project manager for Nigeria and I was the person who personally ran around with the MInistry of Sports then to secure this land for the NFF. I engaged all the stakeholders to get the allocation and papers signed off. Our vision then was to do exactly what is happening here today starting with the technical center which was the first development done, NFF Headquarters, then move to the hostels and hotels etc. So we are happy that this is materialising today to complete the whole masterplan we envisioned.”
He continued, “On behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, I want to congratulate the NFF for being intentional and deliberate about getting this done. This is what we had wanted to be done over the years and I must commend the NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau and the entire executive committee for the will to actualise it.”
Mallam Dikko also expressed gratitude to FIFA President Gianni Infantino for availing Nigeria the opportunity to have such a project. He assured FIFA that Nigeria will always remain a true partner and collaborator to FIFA in advancing and developing Nigerian and global football across all facets.
According Mrs. Ajayi Kehinde Director (Information and PR) NSC, Speaker of the House of Representatives Hon. Tajudeen Abbas GCON performed the official groundbreaking ceremony for the project which will feature a 64-room hotel, executive services apartments, one artificial surface, a natural grass surface and refurbishing of the old artificial surface and the technical center.
