Abuja, Nov. 1, 2025 – In a move to promote transparency in the sports sector, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has called on former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, to account for over two million dollars allegedly spent on stadium renovation projects during his tenure.
In a statement issued in Abuja, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Athletics and Other Sports Development Initiative, Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, commended the House of Representatives Committee on Sports for its decision to investigate the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) handling of FIFA-funded projects across the country.
Gombe urged the committee to extend its probe to other abandoned sports projects, including the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, and the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja. He noted that despite the expenditure of over two million dollars, both facilities remain incomplete.
According to Gombe, “My name is Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe. I am the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Athletics and Sports Development Initiative, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) established by law to promote accountability, transparency, and good governance in Nigeria’s sports industry.”
He stated that while the NGO welcomed the ongoing probe into football-related projects, the same level of scrutiny should be applied to former sports ministers who received funds for various sports infrastructure projects.
“We want to single out one particular case more significant than the FIFA projects,” Gombe said. “We are talking about the stadium in Kebbi State. I do not want to go into details for now, but the truth behind that conspiracy will emerge soon.”
He added that the renewed interest in FIFA funds might be politically motivated, cautioning against what he described as a “selective investigation.”
“Can someone ask Sunday Dare, who is the core subject of this statement, to explain what happened to the funds? Any sign of witch-hunt or selective justice will be resisted,” he said.
Gombe further alleged that Aliko Dangote donated $1 million for the renovation of the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, while Chief Kensington Adebutu (Baba Ijebu) donated a similar or higher amount for the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. Both projects, he claimed, were supervised by Dare.
He noted that despite claims of renovation, the Moshood Abiola Stadium remains unfit for international competitions, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) had downgraded it to Level One.
“The situation in Lagos is even worse,” Gombe stated. “Sunday Dare drove out traders from the National Stadium, Surulere, after collecting millions of dollars from Baba Ijebu for renovation. The project was later abandoned midway, despite heavy media publicity.”
He urged the House of Representatives to extend its investigation beyond FIFA projects in Kebbi State to similar projects in other parts of the country, including Ogborodo in Delta State, as well as the Dangote and Baba Ijebu grants.
“It is embarrassing that the only stadiums currently certified to host FIFA or CAF competitions in Nigeria are the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo and the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne,” he said.
Gombe disclosed that the Remo facility’s provisional approval was secured through the influence of its owner, Kunle Soname, who facilitated CAF inspections. He also mentioned personally assuring foreign teams of safety and security during past matches held in Ogun State.
