Football Council Files FOI Request on Abandoned Sports Centre Project

By Arinzechi Chukwunonso

The Gwagwalada Football Council has submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration, seeking full disclosure on the long-abandoned Gwagwalada Sports Centre project.

The letter, dated November 28, 2025, and acknowledged at the Minister’s office on December 1, was filed through the Council’s legal representatives.

The request cites Sections 1, 2, 4 and 7 of the FOI Act, 2011, and calls for detailed documentation on the stalled facility, widely known as the Gwagwalada Mini-Stadium.

The move comes amid increasing concerns over incomplete grassroots sports infrastructure across the FCT.

The Gwagwalada Sports Centre, initially designed as a multi-purpose venue for youth development—has reportedly seen no visible work since around 2015.

In the request, the Council asked the FCT Administration to provide information in five areas:

1. The current status of the project: ongoing, stalled, completed or formally abandoned.

2. Contract details: identity of the contractor, contract date and contract sum.

3. Financial records: funds released or disbursed since the project began.

4. Plans for resumption or completion, including timelines or budgetary allocations.

5. Progress or inspection reports issued by relevant Area Council departments from 2015 to date.

The Council said the information is necessary to promote transparency and accountability, noting that the project involves public funds and has direct implications for community development.

Under the FOI Act, the FCT Administration is required to respond to such requests within seven days and provide reasons for any denied information.

As of the time of filing this report, the Administration has not issued an official response.

Residents and youth groups in Gwagwalada said they expect that the request will prompt renewed attention to the abandoned facility, which they believe could play an important role in local sports development.