The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, has commended the Lagos State Government for what he described as a remarkable transformation of the state’s sporting infrastructure, following an inspection visit to the newly rehabilitated Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

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Hon. Adeboye, who toured the facility, expressed delight at the quality of work executed, particularly the installation of a natural grass playing surface built to international standards, describing the development as a major boost to sports development in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.

The Presidential aide noted that the impressive rehabilitation of Teslim Balogun Stadium, alongside the continued upgrade of the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, and the excellent condition of the Agege Stadium, demonstrates the Lagos State Government’s commitment to providing modern sporting facilities capable of nurturing talents and hosting major local and international competitions.

“World-class facilities are the foundation of world-class athletes. What I have seen here at the Teslim Balogun Stadium is truly commendable. The quality of work, especially the natural grass pitch and the overall standard of the facility, reflects a genuine commitment to sports development.”

Hon. Adeboye praised Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu for prioritising sports infrastructure as part of his administration’s developmental agenda, noting that quality facilities remain one of the most important ingredients for discovering and developing future champions.

He also applauded the Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, and his team for their dedication and effective supervision of the rehabilitation projects, which he said have restored confidence in Lagos as one of Nigeria’s leading sporting destinations.

According to the SSA, the renewed look of Teslim Balogun Stadium and the impressive condition of Agege Stadium are clear indications that Lagos is reclaiming its place as the home of sports excellence in Nigeria.

“Lagos is setting an example for other states to follow. When government deliberately invests in quality sporting infrastructure, it creates opportunities for talent discovery, athlete development and the successful hosting of major competitions. This is the kind of investment that guarantees long-term success in sports.”

Hon. Adeboye stressed that modern facilities are essential to the Federal Government’s vision of strengthening grassroots sports development, explaining that young athletes can only maximise their potential when they train and compete in environments that meet international standards.

He reiterated that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, remains committed to expanding access to quality sporting infrastructure across the country as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, with particular emphasis on grassroots sports development.

The Presidential aide disclosed that his office is already advancing plans to improve sports infrastructure at the grassroots level, including the proposed construction of community and school sports facilities across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas, to ensure that talented young Nigerians have access to quality environments where they can develop their abilities.

“Our vision is to replicate this kind of infrastructure development across Nigeria. Every community deserves functional sporting facilities because that is where champions are discovered. If we are serious about producing future Olympians, world champions and football stars, then we must continue investing in quality infrastructure from the grassroots.”

Hon. Adeboye expressed optimism that the continued collaboration between the Federal Government, state governments and the private sector would accelerate the growth of Nigerian sports and provide a sustainable foundation for future generations of athletes.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of turning Nigeria into a “full authoritarian state,” citing alleged erosion of democratic institutions, suppression of dissent and weakening of checks and balances.

The PDP made the allegation in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Interim National Working Committee, Ini Ememobong, on Saturday.

The statement reads in full, “The report by the Human Rights Foundation, in its latest global assessment, classifying Nigeria as a fully authoritarian regime is a mere global confirmation of the local reality that Nigerians have been facing under the APC-led Federal Government. The report confirms the faulty electoral process, absence of protection for dissent, erosion of democratic safeguards and the obvious collapse of checks and balances on the executive by critical national institutions.

“The report published on the foundation’s Tyranny Tracker platform, tyrannytracker.org, shows that the country performed abysmally low on all the critical pillars of its assessment, indicating a full descent into authoritarianism, which is incompatible with democratic tenets.

“It is worthy of note that the assessment parameters of the foundation align with the theoretical frameworks that have identified, analysed and condemned authoritarian regimes-being the rule by a dictator and a small group, or a single party; the absence of institutional checks and balances; loss or apprehension of freedom of speech; opposition targeting; and weak and fake elections. 

“It does not take any high degree of intelligence for anybody to agree with the report, because all the indicators of authoritarianism are present in Nigeria, under this Tinubu regime.

“A few examples from the numerous anomalies experienced by Nigerians will suffice here-the recent deployment of uncivilised and uncouth media attacks by officials of the administration to attack Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, the Catholic Church and Christianity generally.

“This incident is one of many which eloquently attest to the absence of freedom of speech under this administration. What did the cleric say that is not the lived experience of Nigerians, except, of course, the few who are isolated from reality and their paid human megaphones? 

“The complete failure of the National Assembly to offer any form of meaningful checks to the executive is not a secret-else how could an administration fail to execute the Appropriation Act for three years, and yet that administration gets commendation, instead of condemnation, from the legislature? A parliament that ignores or blatantly disrespects the country’s constitution and its own standing rules during critical legislative activities cannot offer credible oversight of the executive. 

“What is left, which the administration has doubled down on, is the fact that the 2027 elections are designed as a mere formality, far from reflecting the people’s wishes through the ballot.

“We call on the Tinubu APC administration to immediately take critical steps to de-escalate the political tensions emanating from actions traceable to their officials and their proxies, in the interest of the survival of democracy. 

“The continuous asphyxiation of the opposition, clear weaponisation of security agencies against real and perceived opponents, increasing signs of partisanship by the electoral umpire, and reckless deployment of combustible political rhetoric by the President and his handlers should cease. 

“The President must realise that there are two contests embedded in the 2027 Presidential elections-the presidency and the country. An attempt to focus on winning the former at all costs may result in the loss of the latter; and only a free, fair, credible and peaceful contest can guarantee a win for both coveted prizes.

“We urge Nigerians to continue to demand accountability from their leaders at all levels, as this is the irreducible minimum that democracy provides.”