Former minister also calls for transport integration, governance reforms, and safety protocols in sports
His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), has said that modern, community-based sports arenas integrated with transport infrastructure are crucial for reviving Nigeria’s sporting culture and attracting fans back to stadiums, Completesports.com reports.
Delivering the keynote address at Dr. Mumini Alao’s autobiography launch on Sunday, 10 August 2025, Fashola said outdated stadium designs and poor accessibility have discouraged fans from attending live events.
Integrating Sports Infrastructure with Public Transport
“I can recall that back in Lagos we had to create a BRT bus terminal in front of the Teslim Balogun and National Stadium which was not in the original design,” Fashola explained.
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“The reason was that we understood the importance of easy access and exit, crowd management, and this later informed the location of the Lagos Blue Line Train Station between CMS bus stop and State House Marina to create a walking distance from the Terminus to Onikan stadium, long before it was rebuilt.
“This conscious integration of venues with transport infrastructure will require collaboration between Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), and Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and other professional organisations in the built industry.”
Building Multi-Purpose, Community-Based Sports Venues
He added: “Whilst still on infrastructure we must recognize the need to modify in the medium-term existing facilities and build new ones as multi-purpose centres for sports, concerts, meetings, retail outlets, spas, and kids play pens. This is what will bring families not just individuals.
“Also, the era of large capacity stadia and those located in the outskirts of towns is dying. FIFA is favouring community-based stadia like the Agege Stadium with local ownership and they range from over 5,000 to 20,000 capacities.”
Ensuring Safety and Security at Sports Arenas
Fashola stressed that safety is non-negotiable, citing the need for trained personnel in crowd control, anti-terrorism measures, medical readiness, and law enforcement collaboration.
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“If we are to bring people to these arenas, they must feel safe not only to come but to bring their families and therefore safety and security is non-negotiable,” he emphasised.
“The key is not only to work with experts in law enforcement and security but also to develop specialized manpower in policing, crowd control, crowd safety and anti-terrorism capabilities because large crowds have a special appeal for terrorists.”
Strengthening Governance and Sports Calendar Management
Fashola also warned that without proper governance, clear calendars, strict regulations, and dispute resolution systems, investors would remain hesitant.
“Very importantly, we must bring about proper governance, a clear calendar, regulations that must be enforced and perhaps, arbitration or other dispute resolution apparatus of the highest integrity and acceptance,” Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) harped.
“While the first four items I have mentioned [awareness campaign, manpower capacity for training talent, infrastructure integration and the spectators’ safety] are challenging, the governance is perhaps the most challenging of all in my view because it depends more than others on the character of people.
“There must be no room in this space for tardiness, sloppiness, or uncertainty. Everyone must know where they stand at all times.
“We will probably need new laws by National and State Houses of Assemblies.
“The Nigerian Bar Association will be critical in this regard.
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“The National Sports Commission and the National Institute for Sports will now have to sit down and prepare a National Calendar of Sports, of how local government and school sports will fit into the National Sports Festival to produce talents for the All African Games, which will feed into the Commonwealth Games, which will lead to the Olympics and World Cup respectively without clashing.
“There must be no doubt about when the National Premier League will start because there is no excuse for ad-hoc stoppages which is unacceptable.
“Right now, even before pre-season training, is to commence the 2025-2026 English Premier league fixture is out. I must acknowledge that the Nigeria Professional Football League Fixtures for 2025/2026 are also out.
“This is what enables corporations, investors, and stakeholders take investment decisions.”
Call for Medium-Term Facility Upgrades
Fashola also called for medium-term modifications of existing facilities into multi-purpose arenas for sports, concerts, retail, and family recreation.
By Nnamdi Ezekute
Photos by Ganiyu Yusuf
