Nigeria has the potential to become a leading sports destination if all stakeholders work collaboratively, according to Comrade Philip Shaibu, Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS). Shaibu made the assertion in Rabat, Morocco, following Nigeria’s 4-2 penalty loss to the host nation in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final.
Comrade Shaibu encouraged Nigerian sports administrators to learn from Morocco’s recent achievements, which he attributed to significant investment in sporting infrastructure. He highlighted the stark contrast between Morocco’s state-of-the-art facilities and Nigeria’s underutilised stadiums.
“I think we leaders in Nigeria, myself inclusive, should, with deliberate effort, know that travelling is also education,” Shaibu stated. “When we travel to places like this, we should also copy the good things we see and bring them to Nigeria.”
He praised Morocco’s rapid development, noting, “Morocco is setting the pace in Africa now… “From when we came for the WAFCON till now, I can tell you that there’s a deliberate effort by Morocco to conquer Africa.” Shaibu was particularly impressed by the efficiency of Morocco’s infrastructure, citing the swift exit from a crowded stadium in Rabat.
Comrade Shaibu, in a statement signed by his SA media, Ben Ogbemudia and made available to journalists yesterday in Abuja, while commending the vision of the President Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration for sports infrastructure, Shaibu criticised past sports administrators for their failure to maintain and utilise facilities. “We built that kind of edifice in Nigeria but go there today, it’s rats and lizards and religious crusades that are taking over that stadium. Not sporting activities,” he lamented.
Comrade Shaibu also condemned the “unpatriotic behaviour” of some Nigerians who allegedly resold match tickets to opposing fans during the semi-final, hindering the team’s support. He stressed the need for a collective change in attitude, stating, “what we are seeing in Morocco is only possible in Nigeria, if all of us beyond the leadership decide to say we actually want a Nigeria that is supposed to be the number sporting destination.”
