NSC eyes global standards, shooting facility upgrade News

The National Sports Commission has moved to upgrade Nigeria’s national shooting range in Abuja to international standards, with the leadership of the Nigeria Shooting Sports Federation describing the project as a key step towards elite performance and alignment with the federal government’s renewed hope agenda.

Speaking to The PUNCH, the President of the Nigeria Shooting Sports Federation, Commodore Mohammed Shettima, welcomed the swift backing of the Commission and its partners, stressing that the upgrade would mark the beginning of a new phase for the sport in the country.

He said the intervention reflected a clear commitment to long-term development and institutional reform within shooting sports.

“I extend my deep appreciation to the Chairman and DG of the NSC for the prompt response to my request to upgrade the national shooting range. I also thank the President of the NOC for throwing his weight behind this laudable project,” Shettima said.

“I believe this is one of many deliverables we are poised to achieve since assuming leadership of the NSSF, which are all geared towards the achievement of the renewed hope agenda of the GCFR, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

The project, announced on Wednesday at the shooting complex of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, will see the National Sports Commission partner with the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria and Gray Insignia Nigeria Limited to upgrade, build and manage the federation’s training range to international specifications.

Representing the leadership of the National Sports Commission at the event, Mohammed Rabiu said the facility had suffered years of neglect but was now set for a comprehensive transformation through strategic partnerships and renewed administrative focus.

He credited the initiative to the foundational efforts of the former leadership of the federation, noting that their vision had paved the way for the current intervention.

He said, “We say that man proposes, God disposes. This is part of the effects of his input that brought us to where we are now.”

Rabiu explained that the Commission’s approach now prioritised economic sustainability alongside sporting excellence, with a stronger emphasis on private sector collaboration. He noted that the upgraded facility was expected to attract international competitions, generate revenue and reduce dependence on public funding.

“The government has included us amongst those generating revenue, rather than being a social agency,” he said.

“We must encourage our partners to achieve this so others will be inspired to invest.”

He added that the federation would be required to submit a structured list of athletes and officials who would use the range, to ensure efficient management and responsible utilisation of the facility.

Also speaking, the former President of the NSSF, Retired General Lonsdale Adeoye, expressed optimism that the upgrade would position Nigeria as a continental hub for shooting sports. He recalled that the range had originally been constructed as an incomplete facility and said the current project offered an opportunity to finally meet global benchmarks.

“We have the capacity to grow more than this,” he said.

“We can’t argue with them, but I know God will help us get to that stage soonest.”

Adeoye praised the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu and said he was encouraged by the calibre of stakeholders now involved in the project. He assured the new federation leadership of full cooperation, while outlining plans to deepen private sector involvement, develop local coaching capacity and ensure professional facility management.

“We do not dream mediocrity,” he said, highlighting the development of 33 trained coaches and gate C coaches under the federation, which he described as a rare achievement.

The Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of DICON Gray Insignia Nigeria Limited, Bem Garba, said the partnership represented the fulfilment of a long-standing ambition to contribute meaningfully to shooting sports development in Nigeria. He said the company’s experience in designing shooting ranges and executing complex projects had prepared it for the task.

“Since 2012, we have been under divine preparation,” Garba said.

“Our journey has included designing shooting ranges and developing various projects. However, our aspiration to contribute to shooting sports had not materialised until now.”

Garba described shooting sports as strategically important at national, continental and global levels, arguing that Nigeria’s potential could only be realised through significant investment in modern infrastructure. He acknowledged the high cost of such development but pledged full commitment to delivering a world-class facility.

“We will not hold back on expenses. By God’s grace, we will establish a state-of-the-art facility that enables our athletes, sport shooters, recreational shooters and members of the military and law enforcement to train at a competitive level with their peers worldwide,” he said.

He assured the management of the NSC and other stakeholders that the partnership would serve as a benchmark for future collaborations, adding that the company was aligned with the federation’s vision to win major medals in international shooting competitions.