Seven Years Stalled: Pressure Mounts On FCT To Explain Gwagwalada Sports Centre Delay

Seven Years Stalled: Pressure Mounts On FCT To Explain Gwagwalada Sports Centre Delay

By Admin 

The Gwagwalada Football Council has formally petitioned the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration, requesting full disclosure on the long-stalled Gwagwalada Sports Centre an abandoned project that residents say could have become a major hub for grassroots sports development, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

In a letter dated 28 November 2025 and addressed to the FCT Minister, the Council, through its legal representatives, invoked Sections 1, 2, 4 and 7 of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, 2011. The petition seeks comprehensive documentation on the status, funding history and contractual details of the facility, widely known as the Gwagwalada Mini-Stadium.

Public concern over dormant community sports infrastructure across the FCT has intensified in recent years, with the Gwagwalada Sports Centre emerging as a particularly visible symbol of stalled development. Conceived as a multi-purpose venue to support youth engagement and local sporting activities, the project has reportedly recorded no meaningful progress since around 2015.

In its FOI request, the Council asked the FCT Administration to clarify five key areas:

1. The current status of the project whether ongoing, completed, stalled or officially abandoned.

2. Contract documentation, including the contractor’s identity, contract date and agreed contract sum.

3. Details of funds released or paid since the project commenced.

4. Plans or timelines for resumption or completion, including any existing budgetary provisions.

5. Copies of progress or inspection reports, particularly those issued by the Area Council’s works or sports departments between 2015 and 2025.

The Council stated that access to these records is essential to strengthening transparency, accountability and responsible public spending particularly on community-level infrastructure that directly affects youth development.

Under the FOI Act, the FCT Administration is required to respond within seven days of receiving the request and to cite applicable legal exemptions if any information is withheld. The petition was officially acknowledged at the Minister’s office on 1 December 2025.

As of press time, the FCT Administration had not issued a formal response. Residents and youth groups in Gwagwalada say they hope the inquiry will trigger renewed action on the long-delayed project, which they believe could significantly boost local sports participation if completed.