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Akorede, S. N., & Obenda, M. I. (2026). Factors Influencing Insufficient Facility and Management of Public Stadiums in Nigeria: An Overview. International Journal of Research, 13(2), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.26643/ijr/2026/29

Seun N. Akorede, Moses I. Obenda

Department of Human Kinetics & Health Education, Faculty of Education, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria

Corresponding Author’s Email Id: t.omali@yahoo.com

Abstract

Stadiums serve as venues capable of uniting thousands of individuals, and fostering a remarkable architectural experience. Sadly, many of Nigeria’s public infrastructures including stadiums have significantly declined, highlighting the extent of neglect they have faced over time. The slow or irreversible decline of nearly all public facilities illustrates the degree of neglect they have experienced throughout the years. This research provides a review of the factors affecting inadequate management and maintenance of public stadiums in Nigeria. The secondary data utilized in this study comes from various published sources. The relevant material includes research articles sourced from credible electronic platforms. In addition to research articles, grey literatures were similarly referenced. The findings pinpoint political, economic, social, and technical issues that lead to substandard facilities and inadequate management in Nigeria’s public stadiums. Consequently, the review advocates for a thorough strategy that entails professionalizing management, reinforcing policy and accountability, diversifying funding sources and operations, along with implementing an organized, proactive maintenance plan (both preventive and scheduled).

Keywords: Deterioration, Facilities, Maintenance culture, Stadium, Sustained Maintenance

Introduction

Public sports facilities primarily provide open areas for regular fitness activities. They highlight distinct public welfare traits [1] and currently serve as the foundation for healthy living in our nation. They also play critical role in government initiatives aimed at constructing a “sports superpower” [2]. Specifically, stadiums occupy a unique position within the cultural, economic, and social frameworks of nations, thus holding substantial significance [3]. Beyond hosting sporting events, stadiums function as places for shared experiences, economic catalysts, and identity centers. These sites not only accommodate football matches but also host major events like concerts, religious gatherings, and political rallies.

Investing in sports infrastructure involves substantial financial commitments and represents valuable national resources that convey an investment narrative. Nigeria’s increasing prominence in global football has largely been fueled by investments in football infrastructure alongside the achievements of its athletes in major European leagues. The country has heavily invested in the construction of stadiums [4]. Such expenditures aimed at showcasing modernization and attracting elite competitions have, at times, been influenced by political factors. Unfortunately, the rate of construction has outstripped effective management practices. Consequently, this situation calls for heightened managerial focus, which is vital for ensuring development. Investors, whether public or private, generally anticipate significant returns on their sports-related investments. So, effective management serves as a crucial element for maximizing returns on investment in sports infrastructure, highlighting the increasing importance of stadium management in many nations [5]. One of the key goals in facility management is to lower maintenance expenses while sustaining the quality of the services offered [6]. Management in the realm of sports infrastructure pertains to overseeing sports facilities.

Throughout various periods, Nigeria has hosted some of Africa’s premier sports stadiums. Currently, however, the nation lacks adequate operational stadium facility, a situation exacerbated by a severe absence of maintenance culture resulting from governmental negligence. Public infrastructure in Nigeria frequently suffers from inadequate upkeep [7], leading to their deterioration and resulting flaws at different levels. Although the upkeep of stadium amenities can be both expensive and complex, it is essential if any investment is to be justified. The decline of stadium infrastructure in Nigeria reflects deeper systemic issues that need to be identified and addressed. Among the country’s more than 40 stadiums, only around a dozen are deemed suitable for rehabilitation for international events. These include the National Stadium in Lagos, MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna, and Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt. Additionally, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in Bauchi, Sam Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin, Liberty Stadium in Ibadan, Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, and Adokie Aimiesiamaka Stadium in Port Harcourt complete the list. Once a stunning venue when inaugurated in 1972, the Lagos National Stadium now represents a national embarrassment. The Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo is regarded by Africa’s football governing body, CAF, and the world football governing body FIFA, as Nigeria’s sole international-standard facility, despite the existence of multiple multi-billion-naira venues built for international events. This underscores the country’s inadequate commitment to sports development. As a result, all the recent international football match involving Nigeria takes place at the stadium in Uyo. Thus, despite the numerous facilities distributed across the nation, Nigeria operates effectively as a one-stadium country, facing the risk of being prohibited from hosting international events if the Godswill Akpabio Stadium developed any issue.

It is noteworthy that modern tools have significant influence on facility management. For instance, the adoption of advanced technologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) [8] is essential for resource management. GIS is commonly used for the collection, storage, alteration, analysis, visualization, and presentation of georeferenced data [9,10]. It enables the handling of spatially referenced data through manipulation, analysis, statistical applications, and modeling of spatial information [11, 12]. Recently, advancements in GIS, bolstered by big data technology, have found extensive application in geographic information mapping, as well as in the collection and analysis of spatial data. These technologies offer strong support for both theoretical and practical research concerning public sports facilities [13]. By leveraging the importance of GIS, integrating multi-source geographic data, and utilizing data integration techniques [14], it has become feasible to achieve an accurate spatial understanding of the supply and demand dynamics for public sports facilities through the development of an accessibility model that articulates the correlation between spatial supply and public sports facilities demand.

Materials and Methods

This paper presents an overview of factors influencing insufficient facility and management of public stadiums in Nigeria. The secondary data derived from various published document were used. Relevant materials used consisted of research articles availed from reputable electronic databases including Web of Science and Scopus. Apart from research articles, grey literatures were equally cited.

Results and Discussion
- Political and Policy Influence on Public Stadiums in Nigeria

Public sports facilities are essential for ensuring that citizens can participate in sports [15]. They serve as a vital element of the public service framework aimed at promoting national fitness, acting as a crucial assurance for developing a robust sporting nation, and providing a fundamental platform and impetus for encouraging extensive fitness initiatives. In Nigeria, the construction of stadiums is often driven more by political motives, such as enhancing political reputation or the ambition to host significant mega-events, rather than by sustainable community needs or market demands [16]. This focus leads to a lack of consistency in management policies for these facilities and results in project neglect due to frequent governmental transitions.

By and large, effective execution of policies typically yields favorable outcomes. However, the implementation of such policies in Nigeria is notably poor. This adversely affects both the facilities and the management of public stadiums. Furthermore, policies may restrict potential income sources by forbidding commercial ventures (like restaurants or diverse retail options) on stadium grounds to focus exclusively on sports. Unfortunately, government involvement often introduces non-commercial objectives that compromise the long-term sustainability of these facilities. Another factor impairing the management and infrastructure of public stadiums in Nigeria is the prevalence of corruption. There is economic implications of corruption in construction [17] of stadium, often resulting in increased costs, inferior quality infrastructure, and enduring economic challenges. Moreover, the inventory management system in Nigeria is notably inadequate, which typically contributes to insufficient facility management of public stadiums. It is worthy of note that effective inventory management practices are crucial for maintaining lean inventories, creating robust policies for governance, and ensuring organizational efficiency [18]. However, ineffective inventory management can detrimentally affect an institution’s credibility and financial health. Lastly, there is a notable deficiency in a maintenance culture, which contributes to the inadequate management and upkeep of public stadiums in Nigeria. The lack of a proper maintenance culture and substandard facilities poses a serious challenge to football management. A maintenance culture implies the consistent and regular upkeep of buildings, machinery, facilities, and infrastructure to ensure they remain functional and in good condition.

Financial and Economic Factors on Public Stadiums in Nigeria.

The role of sports infrastructure is crucial to the economy, especially in industrialized nations where sports have evolved into a significant economic sector, contributing roughly two percent to the gross domestic product (GDP) [19]. Funding greatly influences the strategies employed in the design and construction of stadiums. According to some experts, financial constraints have resulted in new sports grounds resembling industrial structures on the outskirts rather than grand football arenas. Furthermore, insufficient funding is a significant hurdle [20] for sports advancement in Nigeria. It’s essential that football venues are tailored to meet the needs of the sport, ensuring that vital elements such as the playing field, spectator stands, press areas, scoreboards, restrooms, ticket booths, dressing rooms, and accessibility are appropriately addressed.

In Nigeria, public infrastructure initiatives often falter due to insufficient funding [21] from government agencies or contractors. The policy requiring government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDA) to return any unused allocated funds to the national treasury at the end of each fiscal year compounds this issue [22]. The Federal Government continually stresses that MDAs must remit any unspent amounts at the close of the financial year. As a result, MDAs tend to rush to return residual funds, striving to appear accountable, which inadvertently leads to project failures and stoppages. Furthermore, facility management receives low priority in Nigeria, with most resources allocated to initial construction rather than ongoing maintenance [23]. This is exacerbated by many public entities relying heavily on volatile government funding. Additionally, numerous investigations have indicated that corruption is a significant factor contributing to the dismal state of facilities, as maintenance budgets are often mismanaged or redirected [24]. Also, inflation impacts maintenance costs. Such macroeconomic fluctuations create serious obstacles for capital upkeep among businesses operating in the nation [25]. The influence of inflation on capital maintenance has grown increasingly important for financial reporting, investment choices, and regulatory supervision. [26]

Management and Human Resource Deficiencies on Public Stadiums in Nigeria.

Facility management entails the strategic planning, administration, coordination, and assessment of daily operations within a facility. It focuses on harmonizing processes inside an organization to sustain and enhance services that back its core functions. Responsibilities within this scope are diverse, covering aspects such as marketing the facility, advertising events, overseeing maintenance, and managing staffing decisions. Typically, a personal manager or personnel director, along with other staff members, oversees the operation of most sports facilities. Often, a significant portion of the management team lacks formal training in facility management or any specialized technical skills. Of course, appointments are sometimes made based on personal connections rather than qualifications, leading to ineffective management practices [27]. Inadequate training often results in improper handling and neglect of equipment, leading to rapid deterioration [28]. Many employees do not have the requisite knowledge to perform basic maintenance tasks or to identify issues at an early stage [29]. Furthermore, Oyewole et al. [30] stress the necessity of continuous professional development for staff to remain updated on the latest maintenance techniques and technological advances. Research conducted by Ojo et al. [31] indicates that the lack of consistent maintenance strategies not only affects the operational efficiency of institutions but also leads to equipment issues. Promoting a more proactive approach to maintenance can be achieved by setting clear maintenance standards that enhance employee awareness and accountability.

Design and Construction on Public Stadiums in Nigeria

Inadequate initial planning often neglects projected usage, anticipated population growth, and the total costs associated with maintenance over the lifespan of facilities. Many public stadiums in Nigeria exhibit flaws in design and construction. The gap between infrastructure delivery and its management is increasingly being highlighted in academic and policy conversations in Nigeria [32]. Furthermore, the use of substandard materials or design, coupled with non-durable construction materials and shortcuts taken due to insufficient supervision, can lead to degradation and a necessity for frequent repairs. Additionally, maintenance strategies are seldom integrated into the original design, as there exists a disconnect between the construction phase and facility management.

Conclusion and Future Scope

This paper examines the elements that contribute to the inadequate facilities and management of public stadiums in Nigeria. The research revealed that the primary factors behind the poor conditions and governance of public stadiums in Nigeria stem from a multifaceted mix of systemic political interference, financial constraints, insufficient professional management skills, initial construction flaws, among other factors. A cycle of decline emerges when immediate political gains are prioritized over sustainable long-term operations (maintenance), ultimately imposing a burden on the public and hindering effective infrastructure utilization.

A holistic approach is essential to tackle Nigeria’s challenges regarding stadium management and facilities. It is crucial to implement strong policies and systems of accountability, which necessitates the introduction of rigorous assessment and oversight processes along with clear, standardized maintenance guidelines. Moreover, diversifying operational strategies by integrating professional management expertise and exploring varied funding options is vital. Encouraging private investment through public-private partnerships serves as another significant tactic. Additionally, a shift from a reactive approach—limited to “corrective repairs only”—to a well-organized, proactive maintenance strategy (encompassing preventive and planned measures) is imperative. Importantly, recruiting skilled and trained individuals, along with providing continuous training in facilities management departments, is paramount. Hiring should be based on expertise rather than favoritism.

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