It was encomium galore as the Senate and House Committees on Sports fielded the National Sports Commission’s 2026 budget defense on Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th February. Reviewing the Commission’s budget performance for 2025, the Committee members applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for prioritising sports with the setting up of the National Sports Commission and giving it an unprecedented support with the approval for the implementation of the first line charge funding for the sector from the 2026 budget.
In their opinion, for sports to record tremendous success, there was a need for the type of intervention provided by the President to reset the sector and put it on a sustainable path of growth.
Senate Sports Committee Chairman Sen. Abdul Ningi said, “Since 1999, no President in Nigeria has shown real intention in prioritising sports than President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. Sports shouldn’t be funded like other sectors and must be devoid of bureaucratic bottlenecks. You need funds ahead of time. If the Commonwealth Games is due, it will not wait for you to provide funds. The Games will go ahead. So sports funds should be in advance.”
Vice-chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Sen. Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta/North Senatorial District, added, “Mr. President has not hidden his desire to support sports. This is encouraging to those of us who are committed to grassroots development of sports. Sports is a huge source of empowerment to the youths and we have to take it more seriously in this country. We will give you our support to take it to the desired heights and we must all acknowledge you have done so well. So far so good.”
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, representing Abia North Senatorial District, projected his experience as Governor of Abia State when Enyimba won the CAF Champions League in 2003 and 2004.
His words, “Honestly you don’t pay arrears in sports. I have done it before. I was pushing money upfront for Enyimba those days. That was why those results that no other Nigerian team has matched were possible. But I am pleased to see that the President is so committed to the success of sports and have put the right person in charge. The President really has good intentions for sports. I am not surprised. Those days, even as Lagos State governor, he was given financial support to Enyimba.”
Earlier on Wednesday, the House Committee on Sports Chairman Hon. Kabiru Ahmadu observed that the President’s recent granting of approval giving directives for adequate budget for sports and for the implementation of the first line charge funding for sports is a testament to how seriously the President takes sports as well as an endorsement of the industry of the NSC leadership.
While commending the Commission for its 2025 performance inspite of the challenges, he called on stakeholders to justify the President’s confidence in the sector by judiciously applying the 2026 budget.
According to Hon. Ahmadu Jaha who represents Chibok Federal Constituency, the performance of the NSC leadership of Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade has lent credence to the fact that having professionals at the helms of the nation’s sports is the way forward.
“The work you people have done in such a short time surpasses what all the other sports ministers put together have done. You have proven that sports can only function effectively without bureaucratic bottlenecks. The President must be commended for this initiative to put professionals in charge of Nigerian sports. We have never had it this good administratively and the records achievements is clearly validating this assertion”, he said.
Hon. Chinedu Ogar who represents the Izza South/Ikwo Federal Constituency further observed the difference in the current administrative structure of Nigerian sports.
“We have to commend Mr. President for these appointments he has made. We are witnessing a lot of groundbreaking innovations in sports. For instance, this is the first time I am seeing someone like a Sports Minister coming to defend the budget with the entire staff of the Commission and clearly on top of the issues. We have been involved in this process for a while and no Sports Minister had come here with his staff. This shows inclusiveness.”
Responding, the NSC Chairman Mallam Dikko observed that the President’s current approval directing adequate funding provision for sports and first line charge funding for sports to avert delays in releases will motivate the Commission to record more giant strides in sports.
He said, “The President’s unprecedented position on sports will effectively solve the problem of non-release of funds. Stable Funding is critical in sports. Whether the funds are released or not, the championships will go on.
“In 2025, we recorded 375 medals across all sports. Almost all Federations were supported for tournaments abroad in addition to normal domestic programs and events. We supported about 50 contingents across all sports for international tournaments and only two came back without medals. The prompt release of funds will even jerk up these figures and would ensure we upscale our infrastructure in record time.
“Our mandate is to harness the potential of the sports economy and make sports one of key driver of the sports economy and already the positive outcomes are evident. in 2025 We have induced the creation of over 140,000 validated jobs both temporary and permanent through sports. In the 3rd quarter of 2025, we contributed 1.2% to the GDP. This last quarter we still did over 1%. This had never happened before, that sports now contributes to the nation’s GDP. At this rate we will be able to do 4% of the GDP every year which is more than our projected 3%. We are really on course.”
He appealed to the Committees to facilitate the reinforcement of the President’s directive so that the relevant agencies will be in proper alignment.
“The President’s directive is to ensure that as soon as the budget is approved and assented by Mr. President, all funds for sports should be released immediately. We will need the support of the Sports Committees to see that this is actualized”, he added.
In his speech, Hon. Olopade, the NSC DG pointed out that the 375 medals cut across various sports. He highlighted that the Commission gives opportunity for all sports to thrive.
“We are not a football Commission. As I am talking to you, we are the best in scrabble, chess in the world. We are touching every sport. All these would not have been possible without the support of the President and the National Assembly”, he opined.
The Committees unanimously approved the NSC 2026 budget and in order to sustain the visible progress and ongoing reset in sports, undertook to advocate and work with the relevant committees and executive for additional funds for the commission in line with its original budget proposals of N460b pursuant to the President’s directives and approval to provide adequate funds for the sports sector.
Signed
Dr (mrs) Kehinde Ajayi FCAI,ANIPR
Director Information & PR
NSC
12/2/26
