Philip Shuaibu, Director-General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS) and former Deputy Governor of Edo State, has called on the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to intervene over alleged encroachment on the National Stadium, Abuja.
Shuaibu made the call during an interview aired on AIT News on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, while speaking on sports infrastructure management and preservation in Nigeria.
Shuaibu recalled Nigeria’s bid to host a major international sporting event under the current administration. He said, “President Tinubu now wanted Nigeria to host Commonwealth Games.” He stated that challenges emerged when assessments were carried out. “These guys came, infrastructure was not there. Game village was sold out,” he said.
In his remarks, Shuaibu said the message was directly addressed to the FCT Minister. According to him, “And I’m also using this medium to call the FCT Minister.” He urged Wike to personally inspect the situation surrounding the National Stadium. Shuaibu said, “He should go and check the landmarks of that stadium.”
Raising concerns about the integrity of the facility’s boundaries, Shuaibu alleged that unauthorized developments may be taking place within the stadium premises. He stated, “It’s like they started encroaching in the national stadium, Abuja.”
Shuaibu emphasized the importance of adhering strictly to the original design and planning framework of the stadium. According to him, “You should go and check.”
He noted that the National Stadium was developed based on a comprehensive planning framework meant to guide its use and development over time. Shuaibu said, “There is a master plan that was built for that stadium.”
