FCT FA Boss Advocates Sports Tax Fund To Boost Grassroots Devt

Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Football Association (FCT FA), Abba Mouktar Muhammed, has called for the establishment of a Sports Tax Fund to address the growing challenges facing sports development in Nigeria, particularly at the grassroots level.

Speaking with journalists in his office in Abuja yesterday, Muhammed said the proposed fund would provide sustainable financing for sports infrastructure, youth development and athlete welfare across the country.

The FCT FA chairman stressed that sports development in Nigeria requires deliberate legislative backing and innovative funding mechanisms, similar to the existing Education Tax Fund.

According to him, the Nigeria Football Federation and its affiliates are struggling with limited resources despite efforts to support football development nationwide.

“We are affiliates and close partners with the Nigeria Football Federation. Abuja hosts the headquarters of the NFF and we work very closely together,” he said.

Muhammed noted that the FCT has continued to benefit from its relationship with the federation, hosting several matches in the Nigeria Nationwide League and the Federation Cup, often with more centres than many states.

He also revealed that several coaches from the FCT are involved in the national team structure, further strengthening ties between the FCT FA and the NFF.

Despite the cooperation, he admitted that the federation faces enormous financial pressure in managing existing programmes, making it difficult to introduce new developmental initiatives.

To address the challenge, Muhammed proposed that part of the revenue generated through education tax collections should be channelled into a legally backed Sports Tax Fund dedicated solely to sports development.

He explained that such a fund would finance the construction of sports facilities, regional training centres and grassroots programmes across the country.

According to him, the initiative would not only benefit football but also athletics and other sports, while creating opportunities for Nigerian youths.

Muhammed said inadequate facilities remain one of the biggest obstacles to sports growth in Nigeria.

“We have shortages of facilities and places where top matches can be played. Those are the things that determine development from the grassroots to the national level,” he stated.

He added that improved infrastructure would widen the talent pool available for national teams and reduce the difficulties currently experienced by athletes, especially in international competitions such as the Olympics.

The FCT FA chairman also lamented the poor condition of several abandoned sports projects across the Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory.

He disclosed that discussions had already taken place with the Sports Council on ways to revive the facilities, describing some of the abandoned complexes as “beautiful edifices” capable of transforming sports development if completed.

Muhammed particularly highlighted the growing importance of the Bwari Township Stadium, which he described as a successful model for community-based sports development.

According to him, Bwari has gradually evolved into a sports hub attracting football academies and clubs from different parts of Nigeria.

“Bwari has now turned into a sports city. Teams from other parts of the country have moved their camps there and several academies are also establishing their bases there,” he said.

He explained that the FCT FA deliberately resisted commercialising the facility to ensure affordability for grassroots teams and young players.

However, Muhammed admitted that heavy usage is beginning to affect the condition of the pitch, which is approaching its fifth year of use.

He said plans are underway to maintain and upgrade the facility while replicating the Bwari model in other parts of the FCT and beyond.