PRESIDENT TINUBU ORDERS NEW FUNDING PLAN FOR NIGERIAN SPORTS

By: Gyang Dakwo

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a major overhaul of sports funding in Nigeria and has directed relevant federal ministries to make sure sports get proper support from the 2026 fiscal year.

The President said funds for sporting infrastructure, programs, events, and international competitions must be fully captured in the national budget and released on time. He made this known while reflecting on Nigeria’s strong sports outing in 2025.

He acknowledged that Nigerian athletes won a total of 373 medals across different sports in the year. He also pointed to success stories such as individual athletics champions, the Super Eagles winning bronze at AFCON 2025, and the victories recorded by the country’s female football and basketball teams. From these performances, he said Nigerian athletes made the nation proud.

“Sports is one of our strongest brands as a nation. It unifies us, breaks all our fault lines, inspires belief, and builds a sense of community that cuts across age, language, ethnicity, religion, and social status,” President Tinubu stated.

The President praised the National Sports Commission under the leadership of Malam Shehu Dikko, and said the commission has pushed reforms in line with his Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that such progress has been made despite funding and infrastructure challenges.

President Tinubu stressed the fact that sports development in Nigeria has suffered for years because of delays, scattered funding, and poor investment in facilities. He said these problems affected preparation and global competitiveness.

“That cycle undermined performance and placed our athletes at a disadvantage. This must change,” he said.

To fix the issues, the President directed the Ministries of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, and the Budget Office of the Federation to reset sports funding. He said allocations spread across many government agencies should be streamlined, and savings should be moved into a single framework under the National Sports Commission.

“Sports is our national asset and must be administered, managed, and funded in alignment with its special nature and demands devoid of any bureaucratic bottlenecks,” President Tinubu said. “The future of Nigerian sports will be planned, properly funded, and competitive. We will support our athletes early, prepare them thoroughly, and celebrate them proudly.”

The reforms are to fall under the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy, also known as RHINSE. The plan aims to use sports to create jobs, grow tourism, attract investment, and boost Nigeria’s global image. It also focuses on early support for elite athletes, grassroots participation, stronger sports federations, and hosting major international events at home.