NIS Claims Ownership of Hostel at MKO Abiola Stadium

The National Institute for Sports (NIS) has asserted its ownership of a 200-bed hostel located opposite the Athletes Development Centre at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, sparking a dispute with the National Sports Commission (NSC). Jude Abu, Esq., Head of the Department of Works at NIS, stated that the hostel was commissioned for NIS students during former President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration and is crucial for the institute's operations.

Abu emphasized that the NIS has both physical and documentary evidence supporting its claim, including an official plaque on the premises. The NIS has instructed unauthorized occupants to vacate the facility by December 31, 2026, warning of legal action if they fail to comply.

The conflict intensified following the NSC's removal of an official NIS notice and replacement with an eviction notice on September 20, which Abu described as provocative and unlawful. This disagreement has brought the issue of the hostel's ownership into public view.