Apathy and Poor Funding as Missing Links in Grassroots Sports Development
As the tier of government closest to the people, local councils hold the key to Nigeria's talent factory and her return to the elite division of international sports. However, this critical tier has failed in its duties due to officials' apathy toward sports development and inadequate funding, among other factors. Across the country, only a few local councils boast developed sports facilities like stadiums and indoor sports halls. Even when such facilities exist, they are mostly used by outsiders because most councils lack developmental programs that ensure routine use of these structures.
Examples of Neglect in Local Sports Infrastructure
For instance, the Ejigbo Local Council in Lagos State has a mini-stadium that once served as a breeding ground for future stars who graduated to Rowe Park in Yaba or the Teslim Balogun Stadium. Presently, the Ejigbo Stadium, with no grass on its football field, serves as a playground for schools holding inter-house sports competitions and leisure football players practicing on weekends. According to an anonymous local council official, schools rent the field for competitions, and the public uses it for parties, but it only comes alive on weekends with local football players. In 2022, a basketball court was built for community children, yet overall, the facility remains underutilized without proper maintenance or programs.
The current government of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is building sporting facilities across Lagos State, and there is hope for refurbishment, but this highlights a broader issue of dependency on state initiatives rather than local council autonomy.
Historical Context and Systemic Failures
By design, local councils are supposed to play a crucial role in developing sports in Nigeria. As the closest tier to the people, they have access to raw talent and schools, positioning them better than state and federal governments to harness potential. In the post-independence years up to the late 1990s, local governments had defined roles in sports development, presenting talents in competitions like inter-local government sports festivals. These talents were recruited for national championships, forming the basis for international selections.
The old Eastern Region, for example, sent coaches to divisions to work with games masters, introducing various sports to students and selecting the best for further training. This system was replicated across regions, leveraging colonial structures. Sadly, with the military's introduction of unitary government in the late 1960s, local councils lost their power as everything was centralized. The return to civilian rule in 1999 was supposed to correct this imbalance, but it has not, due to continued centralization and lack of autonomy.
Expert Insights and Current Challenges
Experts insist that local councils must play a crucial role by providing funding, constructing and maintaining infrastructure, and implementing policies that promote community participation. They should foster talent through school programs, organize competitions, and partner with private stakeholders. However, most councils have abdicated these roles, hampered by how officials get into office and the suffocating influence of state governments. Many local council officials owe their positions to state governors, limiting their ability to initiate programs independently.
A principal officer in Bende Local Council of Abia State, speaking anonymously, revealed that efforts to organize community competitions for its 13 towns failed due to lack of resources and manpower. In a society where power is concentrated with state governors, local governments struggle to build stadiums or playgrounds. Financial autonomy, if enforced by the federal government and Senate, could change this.
Additional Barriers and Proposed Solutions
Aside from financial constraints, Kweku Tandoh, a former chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, noted that local councils have not been adequately educated about their roles in talent discovery. He blamed state sports commissions for not integrating councils into their structures. Nigeria's recent fiscal policy, giving councils direct funding from FAAC, offers an opportunity for grassroots sports development if state sports commissions engage effectively. Lagos State is a rare example where local councils are involved, with laws mandating Local Council Sports Committees since 2016.
Stephen Bityong, a former councillor in Zangon Kataf Local Council of Kaduna State, highlighted that poor funding and insecurity make it difficult to gather youths for sports. In tense situations, security concerns override event planning, and state governments still control local councils despite nominal autonomy. Some councils use sports to rehabilitate insecurity victims, but challenges persist.
Isaac Ogbonnaya Isaac, a former Abia State director of Sports, argued that the problem is not poor finances but misplacement of priorities and apathy. Local government administrators see sports as leisure rather than a job-creating sector that can reduce crime. To rejuvenate councils, he advocates for laws mandating 10% of budgets for sports development, companies remitting 5% of profits to sports, and sports endowment funds. He also suggests placing sports on the exclusive list to ensure proper grassroots development.
Overall, the apathy and poor funding at the local council level continue to hinder Nigeria's grassroots sports development, requiring systemic reforms and greater autonomy to unlock the nation's sporting potential.
