President Bola Tinubu has ordered the “resetting” of the federal government’s framework for funding of sports in the country.
In a statement on Friday, the president said he has directed
the ministries of finance, budget and economic planning, and the budget office
of the federation to ensure “adequate provisions” for Nigeria’s participation
in international tournaments, sporting activities, and the development of
sporting facilities, as from the 2026 fiscal year.
He then added that “all funds so appropriated are released
immediately once the budget is passed and assented to”.
Nigerian sports teams have gone on numerous protests over
unpaid allowances in the past few years. The recent incident involved the Super
Eagles refusing to travel for their quarter-final game at the 2025 Africa Cup
of Nations (AFCON).
The federal government blamed the delay on an administrative
bottleneck.
Tinubu said the status quo “must change”, adding that the
“cycle undermined performance and placed our athletes at a disadvantage”.
“I have therefore approved and directed the relevant
ministries of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning and the Budget Office of
the Federation for the resetting of sports funding to ensure that henceforth as
from the 2026 fiscal year adequate provisions for sporting Infrastructure
development, maintenance, sporting activities, programs, events and
participation in international competitions are made annually in the national
budget, and that all Funds so appropriated are released immediately once the budget
is passed and assented to. Nigerian athletes deserve certainty, not excuses,”
the statement reads.
“For too long, sports funding was slowed by bureaucracy,
fragmented across institutions, and when funds are released, they come too late
to support proper preparation and even participation. Likewise, no meaningful
investment is made towards sports infrastructure development and maintenance
that meets international benchmarks. That cycle undermined performance and
placed our athletes at a disadvantage. This must change.”
Tinubu then praised Nigerian athletes’ performance in 2025,
noting that the country won a total of 373 medals at international
competitions.
The president said “the future of Nigerian sports will be
planned, properly funded, and competitive”. He added Nigerian athletes will
henceforth be supported early, be prepared thoroughly, and celebrated proudly”.
In December, Tinubu presented a N58.18 trillion 2026
appropriation bill to the national assembly. Over N210 billion was allocated to
the National Sports Commission (NSC) in the bill.
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