The Chief Executive Officer of Monimichelle Sports Facilities Construction Limited, Ebi Egbe, has raised fresh concerns over the poor maintenance of football pitches and sports facilities across Nigeria, warning that continued neglect is accelerating the deterioration of the country’s stadium infrastructure.

Egbe said the absence of a sustainable maintenance culture has left many stadiums in a dilapidated condition, with several failing to meet the standards required by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for domestic and international competitions.

He stressed that maintenance remains the foundation of quality sports infrastructure, insisting that even the best facilities cannot retain their standard without consistent upkeep.

In a message to The Guardian, Egbe said: “Maintenance is the lubricant that keeps quality sports facilities functioning at their best. Once it is neglected, the entire development process of sport suffers a major setback.”

The sports infrastructure expert explained that regular maintenance is essential to preserving the quality, safety and longevity of football pitches, noting that well-maintained playing surfaces provide consistent ball roll, true ball bounce, optimum player traction, effective shock absorption and enhanced player safety.

According to him, no matter how sophisticated or costly a football pitch may be, its performance will inevitably decline without a structured maintenance programme.

Egbe added that routine maintenance helps facilities retain FIFA performance standards, prolongs the lifespan of playing surfaces, reduces the need for expensive repairs and ensures stadiums remain fit to host top-level competitions.