Director-General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Philip Shaibu, has accused past ministers of youth and sports development of deliberately crippling the institute through years of neglect and mismanagement.

Shaibu called on the National Assembly to investigate the alleged systemic decay that has left the once-proud institution in ruins.

Commissioned in 2007 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the NIS was established to train and develop Nigerian coaches, athletes, and sports administrators. However, Shaibu said the institute has suffered from chronic underfunding and deliberate sabotage.

“With what I have seen, it was deliberate by the ministry to destroy the NIS for selfish interests,” he alleged. “Every government agency has its purpose. NIS was meant to collaborate with the ministry in organizing tournaments, training athletes, and producing coaches. That vision was killed.”

He also revealed that the 200-room athletes’ hostel within the NIS premises has been converted to residential use by non-sports occupants.

“That structure was 95% completed when former President Obasanjo inaugurated the Athletes Development Centre. It was meant for athlete camping, not what it’s being used for now. Somebody is collecting money from those occupants,” he said.

Shaibu urged the National Assembly to summon all sports ministers from 1999 to date for questioning. “NIS was grounded by the ministry. The lawmakers must investigate those responsible for its destruction,” he said, adding that his administration is now focused on restoring the institute as “Nigeria’s engine room for producing champions.”