Egbe Urges More Investment In FIFA-Certified Pitches In Nigeria

Sports facilities expert Ebi Egbe has called for increased investment in FIFA-certified football pitches across Nigeria, urging government agencies to engage competent indigenous contractors to accelerate sports development.

Egbe, whose company, Monimichelle Sports Facilities, has handled stadium construction and rehabilitation projects across the country, said Nigeria had the technical expertise to deliver modern sports infrastructure that meets international standards.

He stressed that sustained investment in quality playing surfaces, drainage systems, irrigation and regular maintenance was essential to improving the durability of sports facilities and providing better conditions for athletes.

“Nigeria has the local expertise required to build and maintain modern sports facilities. What we need is a system that gives competent contractors the opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities while ensuring that quality and international standards are not compromised,” Egbe said.

He argued that stadium development should go beyond constructing playing surfaces, insisting that proper planning, quality control and maintenance arrangements were necessary to ensure facilities remained functional for years.

“Building a stadium is not just about laying a pitch or completing the construction work. It is about delivering a facility that can serve athletes and clubs for years. Every project must be backed by proper quality control, maintenance planning and accountability,” he added.

Egbe also urged government agencies and sports administrators to ensure that contracts for stadium construction and rehabilitation were awarded through transparent procurement processes, with technical competence, competitive pricing and verifiable performance standards guiding decisions.

Monimichelle has been associated with projects at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, Enyimba International Stadium in Aba, Aper Aku Stadium in Makurdi, Awka Township Stadium, Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa and Sardauna Memorial Community Stadium in Gusau, Zamfara State.

The company also constructed the hybrid synthetic pitch at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, which received FIFA Quality certification in January 2026.

The facility hosted the CAF Confederation Cup encounter between Nigeria’s El-Kanemi Warriors and Morocco’s Raja Casablanca in October, with the match ending 2-2.

Egbe maintained that expanding access to quality playing surfaces would strengthen football development in Nigeria, while the use of competent local contractors could help build the infrastructure required to support clubs, athletes and competitions.