₦airaland Forum

National Sports Festival: Mbah Assures Readiness, World-Class Facilities for Coal City Games

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has assured that the state will deliver a world-class and memorable 23rd National Sports Festival, tagged “Coal City Games,” scheduled for November 27 to December 11, 2026.

Mbah gave the assurance during an inspection of the Awgu Games Village at the weekend, where he assessed the pace and quality of ongoing works, including a 1,000-capacity hostel, indoor and outdoor courts, a FIFA-standard football pitch and an eight-lane athletics track.

The Governor said the abandoned facility would be transformed into a world-class Games Village in less than two months, stressing that Enugu was committed to meeting the festival’s fixed dates.

“We are not interested in shifting the date. The dates are already fixed for the 23rd National Sports Festival, and these facilities will be ready,” Mbah said.

He said the ongoing upgrade of the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium was part of a broader transformation of sports infrastructure in the state, covering a FIFA-standard pitch, new athletics track, spectator stands, floodlights, electronic access-control systems, scoreboards and other facilities.

According to him, the stadium complex is also being expanded to include an Olympic-size swimming pool and upgraded indoor and outdoor facilities for sports including basketball, volleyball and squash.

Mbah said the investments go beyond hosting the festival, noting that modern sports infrastructure would support tourism, investment, social cohesion and the development of the sports economy.

He added that the state was focused not only on the efficient hosting of the Games but also on the accommodation, logistics and overall experience of athletes, officials and contingents.

The Governor was accompanied by the Commissioners for Youth and Sports Development, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu; Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Osita Okoh; Human Development and Poverty Eradication, Prof. Benedett Okoli; Special Adviser on Project Development and Implementation, Arch. Uche Nwatu; and Chairman of Awgu LGA, Hon. Uchenna Okolo.

National Sports Festival: Mbah Assures Readiness, World-Class Facilities for Coal City Games

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has assured that the state will deliver a world-class and memorable 23rd National Sports Festival, tagged “Coal City Games,” scheduled for… pic.twitter.com/g8PaT369x1

— enugugovernment (@enugugover76588) October 4, 2026

There is nothing world class about Nigeria

Billions don already disappear for dis project.

I just hope no be scam dem want scam us..

I hope it will not turn out to be another ajinomoto scam

The Sports teams will enjoy Enugu, it's the most serene city in Nigeria and they know how to host events, they hosted the best NBA conference last year, you can ask any lawyer that attended

The Sports teams will enjoy Enugu, it's the most serene city in Nigeria and they know how to host events, they hosted the best NBA conference last year, you can ask any lawyer that attended that conference

cenaman:
Billions don already disappear for dis project.

No billions disappear anywhere.

Truth be told, Gov Mbah is doing very well

Guyman02:
The Sports teams will enjoy Enugu, it's the most serene city in Nigeria and they know how to host events, they hosted the best NBA conference last year, you can ask any lawyer that attended

Kudos for hosting the " best "NBA conference according to your lay man"s view.

Hosting sporting events is another game entirely. Hostels or accommodators must be provided for the athletes, logistics of moving from hostels to sporting venues are involved,, the facilities themselves must also be available and upto date.

My hope, Prayer and wish is that they do it well.

Learn not to compare Bananas with Puff puff just for tribal reasons.

ppogba:
Kudos for hosting the " best "NBA conference according to your lay man"s view.

Hosting sporting events is another game entirely. Hostels or accommodators must be provided for the athletes, logistics of moving from hostels to sporting venues are involved,, the facilities themselves must also be available and upto date.

My hope, Prayer and wish is that they do it well.

Learn not to compare Bananas with Puff puff just for tribal reasons.

They will give Nigerians the best Sports Festival in years, I am not from Enugu state but when it comes to hosting events they always give their best, watch this space

Nigeria govts loves last minute preparations this is what they would have finished months ago after the hosting rights was given to enugu.

This is commendable even though the world class standards won't be achieved in reality

ppogba:
Kudos for hosting the " best "NBA conference according to your lay man"s view.

Hosting sporting events is another game entirely. Hostels or accommodators must be provided for the athletes, logistics of moving from hostels to sporting venues are involved,, the facilities themselves must also be available and upto date.

My hope, Prayer and wish is that they do it well.

Learn not to compare Bananas with Puff puff just for tribal reasons.

If enugu could host about 20k NBA members they are capable of hosting sporting events of 10k to 15k participants, accomodations and transportation will not be a problem, plus the facilities are under reconstruction

Mrfeel:
If enugu could host about 20k NBA members they are capable of hosting sporting events of 10k to 15k participants, accomodations and transportation will not be a problem, plus the facilities are under reconstruction

Enugu did not provide accomodations for NBA delegates.
Enugu WILL provide accomodations for ALL ATHLETES AND OFFICIALS.

TRANSPORTATION may not be a problem. Logistics COULD be a problem.

Argue from a position of knowledge and not that of tribal sentiments.

Delta, Edo,C Rivers, Ogun, Oyo, Kwara amongst other states will host NBA conveniently.

Ok. Good to hear that.
All roads leads to Enugu State.

ppogba:
Enugu did not provide accomodations for NBA delegates.
Enugu WILL provide accomodations for ALL ATHLETES AND OFFICIALS.

TRANSPORTATION may not be a problem. Logistics COULD be a problem.

Argue from a position of knowledge and not that of tribal sentiments.

Delta, Edo,C Rivers, Ogun, Oyo, Kwara amongst other states will host NBA conveniently.

What logistics could be a problem in enugu? Explain further cause I know for sure governor mbah puting everything in place

And please stop, mentioning tribal sentiment up and down here, can't you have a normal discussion with the word tribe been mentioned

Mrfeel:
What logistics could be a problem in enugu? Explain further cause I know for sure governor mbah puting everything in place

And please stop, mentioning tribal sentiment up and down here, can't you have a normal discussion with the word tribe been mentioned

I will not fail to mention whatever I sense in anyone's comment. No apologies about that.

Talking about logistics, the hosting of competitions involves the distances of hostels to their games venues, enough buses to shuttle between various centers simultaneously, enough medical facilities and personnel accross venues and centers.

It is Great that Mbah is ready and willing. If other states can do it, nothing stops Enugu the former capital of the Eastern region not to do it.

I don't comment for the sake of it.

Guyman02:
The Sports teams will enjoy Enugu, it's the most serene city in Nigeria and they know how to host events, they hosted the best NBA conference last year, you can ask any lawyer that attended that conference

Your eyes are dark 😆😆. Oju e dudu. Anything you see us do is not world-class.

Go out and see the world. Nothing is spectacular in Nigeria. We are just trying our best. We are over 150 years behind.

People like you head our ministries and agencies and decide for us. You know nothing about modern facilities, structures, infrastructure etc.

That NBA conference may be your best but it’s a trash.

Absolutely! Lagos is the obvious choice. Let’s make it even better with some strategic tweaks. AcadaWriter

ppogba:
I will not fail to mention whatever I sense in anyone's comment. No apologies about that.

Talking about logistics, the hosting of competitions involves the distances of hostels to their games venues, enough buses to shuttle between various centers simultaneously, enough medical facilities and personnel accross venues and centers.

It is Great that Mbah is ready and willing. If other states can do it, nothing stops Enugu the former capital of the Eastern region not to do it.

I don't comment for the sake of it.

And I tell you enugu is capable of all the above mentioned , there are close to 3 higher institution that are just 8 to 9 minutes drive away from nnamdi azikiwe stadium that their hostles can be used, reconstruction is going on rapidly at the game village in awgu that can camp thousands of athletes, and if that's not enough other competitions can be held separately in nsukka as aswell cause there are sporting facilities there , ogun hosted it in 2025 and the competition was held it different parts of the states

The points outlined across this post are remarkably accurate and reflective of the current reality, demonstrating that calm, constructive dialogue will always yield better insights than quick reactions. Let us keep the conversation going with open minds and mutual respect across the board.