Plans Concluded to Revamp Muda Lawal Stadium in Abeokuta
Oru Leonard
The Federal Government, through the National Sports Commission (NSC), has approved the revamping of the Muda Lawal Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun State, in honour of one of Nigeria’s greatest football legends, Mudashiru Babatunde Lawal.
The rebirth of the historic stadium is part of the Federal Government’s broader commitment under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to upgrade sports infrastructure across the country and create world-class facilities capable of driving grassroots and elite sports development.
Director General of the National Sports Commission, Hon. Bukola Olopade, described the project as a “fitting recognition for a true Nigerian sporting icon whose legacy continues to inspire generations of athletes across the country.”
“Muda Lawal remains one of the finest footballers ever produced by Nigeria and deserves to be immortalized through a modern sporting facility that will serve not only Ogun State but the entire nation,” the DG said.
He added that the revamp of the stadium will significantly boost football and other sporting activities in the region, especially at a time when sports participation and youth engagement continue to grow rapidly across the country.
The renovation project will include the installation of new tartan tracks and the rehabilitation of major facilities within the stadium to meet modern standards. The upgraded complex is expected to become a hub for sports and national competitions.
Muda Lawal, who hailed from Abeokuta, Ogun State, remains one of Nigeria’s most celebrated football heroes. The former Green Eagles player was a central figure in Nigeria’s historic 1980 Africa Cup of Nations triumph, where he scored in the memorable 3-0 victory over Algeria to secure the country’s first-ever continental title. He was also instrumental in IICC Shooting Stars’ success as the club won Nigeria’s first continental club trophy, the African Cup Winners Cup, in 1976.
Part of the Federal Government’s commitment to sports infrastructure development nationwide, the next three host states of the National Sports Festival are set to receive strategic support and facility upgrades.
Enugu State, which is the next immediate host of the National Sports Festival, will benefit from the construction of an Olympic-size swimming pool, upgrade of its indoor sports hall, rehabilitation of athletes’ hostels and several other intervention projects aimed at ensuring a successful hosting of the Games and long-term sporting development in the state.
The National Sports Commission reaffirmed that these interventions align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places strong emphasis on youth empowerment, infrastructure renewal and the use of sports as a tool for national development, unity and economic growth.
(NSC Media, May 27, 2026)
Photo Credit: The Cable
