Lagos, Nigeria — Former Lagos State Governor and immediate past Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has urged Nigeria to remodel its stadiums into multi-purpose hubs for sports, entertainment, and community engagement.

Speaking on Sunday at the University of Lagos during the launch of veteran sports journalist Mumini Alao’s autobiography, Fashola said modern, multi-functional arenas would not only improve sports infrastructure but also attract larger, more diverse audiences.

In his address, titled “Re-thinking the Current Football Business Model in Nigeria as a Catalyst for Sports Development”, he noted that stadiums could serve as venues for concerts, meetings, retail outlets, spas, and children’s play areas, transforming them into family-friendly spaces.

“The era of large-capacity stadia located on the outskirts of towns is dying,” Fashola said. “FIFA is favouring community-based stadiums like the Agege Stadium, with capacities between 5,000 and 20,000, and local ownership.”

He stressed that safety and accessibility were essential for attracting spectators, citing the need for secure parking, reliable transport, and a safe environment for families.

Nigeria currently has only two Confederation of African Football-accredited stadiums: the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja and the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, despite the numerous facilities across the country.

Fashola, who has long championed sports development, recently had the maiden edition of the ITTF Africa Youth Cup named in his honour by the International Table Tennis Federation Africa.