The Lagos State Sports Commission says the government is accelerating efforts to deliver world-class sporting infrastructure across the state, following renewed public pressure over the prolonged renovation of the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Agege Stadium and several mini-stadiums.
Calls for completion have intensified among stakeholders — including journalists, coaches, players and club officials — who say the heavy overuse of the Mobolaji Johnson Arena has become unsustainable.
The iconic Onikan ground is currently bearing the load of 242 registered Lagos football clubs, serving as the only major operational facility.
Just two weeks ago, the congested schedule boiled over when Ikorodu City and Plateau United clashed over access to the stadium for a pre-match warm-up, moments after Sporting Lagos had finished a second-division fixture, a situation many argue would not arise if other facilities were functioning.
Photojournalist Victor Modo criticised the prolonged abandonment of the Agege Stadium, saying via X, “It’s a big disgrace that the Lagos State Government and the FA have left the Agege Stadium unfinished for close to five years… let boys keep playing on the turf that was there.”
Another enthusiast, Lawal Sheriff, warned that the Mobolaji Johnson Arena was being dangerously overworked:
“We need more functional and well-maintained stadiums… we cannot allow Onikan to be overused.”
Local coaches and club owners echoed similar frustrations, lamenting that many of the mini-stadiums — meant to ease pressure on central facilities — remain incomplete despite appearing close to final stages.
In response, Lagos State Sports Commission DG Lekan Fatodu assured residents that major progress is being made.
“Work is moving speedily at Teslim Balogun. The tartan tracks are almost completed, work has started on the pitch. The contractor has said that within the second quarter of next year, Teslim Balogun and Agege Stadium will be fully operational with all amenities,” Fatodu said in an interview.
He added that the mini-stadiums across Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe would be delivered even earlier.
“The Igbogbo, Ifako-Ijaiye and Gbagada mini-stadiums have attained 95 per cent completion. So we want to put that energy into the remaining eight mini-stadiums.”
Teslim Balogun Stadium — reopened in 2007 and a key venue during the 2009 U-17 FIFA World Cup — has been unused during its facelift, while the 4,000-capacity Agege Stadium has remained shut for nearly four years.
For Lagos’ bustling football ecosystem, the hope is that the long-awaited facility upgrades will finally relieve the strain on overstretched grounds and restore balance to one of Nigeria’s busiest sporting hubs.