By Aderonke Ojo
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has entered into a partnership with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) and Dicon Gray Insignia Nigeria Ltd (DGI) to upgrade, build and manage the shooting range at Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, to international standards.
The upgraded facility is expected to serve as a world-class training range for athletes of the Nigeria Shooting Federation, aimed at improving their performance to global standards.
Speaking at the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Dr Mohammed Rabiu, who represented the leadership of the NSC, said the shooting range had suffered neglect over the years due to limited resources but would soon be transformed through the partnership.
Rabiu attributed the development to the commitment of the NSC leadership to reposition the sports sector for sustainable growth.
He acknowledged the contributions of the former President of the Nigeria Shooting Federation, retired Gen. Lonsdale Oladeji Adeoye, noting that the collaboration was part of the foundation laid during his tenure.
“Man proposes, God disposes. Gen. Adeoye worked tirelessly to achieve what we are witnessing today, even though he did not see it materialise during his time in office,” Rabiu said.
He explained that the NSC was now focused on driving economic growth by leveraging private sector partnerships.
“The government has repositioned the commission as a revenue-generating agency rather than merely a social institution,” he said.
Rabiu added that the partnership would lead to upgraded facilities, attract international competitions and generate positive multiplier effects for the nation’s economy.
He urged the Shooting Federation to submit, in due course, a list of athletes and officials who would use the facility to ensure effective management and optimal utilisation.
Also speaking, retired Gen. Adeoye, a stakeholder and member of the development team, expressed optimism that the upgraded shooting range would help position Nigeria as a sports hub in Africa.
He said the country had the capacity to expand beyond the current project, noting that the original facility was built incomplete.
Adeoye recalled that Egypt’s shooting range was constructed based on a design approved by the International Shooting Committee (ISC), making it one of the best in the world.
“We trust that with God’s help, Nigeria will attain that level soon,” he said, while commending President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He assured the NSC of the federation’s cooperation and revealed plans to work with private partners, develop local coaches and ensure efficient facility management.
“We do not dream of mediocrity,” Adeoye said, highlighting the development of 33 coaches, including Grade C coaches, as a significant achievement.
According to him, the world governing body for shooting sports has shown interest in Nigeria’s progress, describing the project as a “golden opportunity” to get things right.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of Dicon Gray Insignia Nigeria Ltd, Mr Bem Ibrahim Garba, said the company had been involved in the design and development of shooting ranges and related projects since 2012.
Garba said the partnership marked the fulfilment of the company’s long-standing aspiration to contribute meaningfully to the development of shooting sports in Nigeria.
He described shooting sports as important at national, continental and global levels, stressing that Nigeria had the potential to make a strong international impact if supported with the right infrastructure.
“Although developing such infrastructure is capital-intensive, we are committed to delivering a state-of-the-art facility that will serve athletes, recreational shooters, and personnel of the military and law enforcement agencies,” he said.
Garba assured stakeholders that the company would spare no expense in delivering a world-class facility and pledged full alignment with the federation’s vision to enhance medal prospects for Nigeria.
The MoU documents were formally signed and handed over to the company by the NSC leadership, who commended DICON and DGI for partnering with the commission to upgrade and manage the shooting range.
The facility is expected to enhance athletes’ performance to international standards while also generating revenue for the Federal Government and the private partners.