Sports Reform At Heart Of Nigeria’s 2030 Games Bid ¬— Presidency

Nigeria has underlined sweeping sports reforms arsenic the backbone of its historical bid to big the 2030 Commonwealth Games, the archetypal connected African soil.

President Bola Tinubu who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, stated this connected Thursday erstwhile helium formally received the delegation of the Commonwealth Sport Bid Evaluation Committee astatine the State House successful Abuja.

Reaffirming Nigeria’s committedness to hosting an inclusive, divers and world-class Games, Gbajabiamila said Tinubu had already written a missive of guarantee, giving his afloat value to the bid.

“You’re precise invited to Nigeria. I anticipation you bask our large hospitality which we are known for. Mr President besides asked maine personally to convey his regards, he’s afloat successful enactment of this bid. As I said, the President has written a Letter of Guarantee to you, his afloat value is down this bid,” Gbajabiamila told the delegation.

He stressed that the administration’s determination to scrap the Ministry of Sports and make a National Sports Commission was a deliberate betterment to reposition sports arsenic a strategical operator of nationalist development.

“What I tin guarantee you is that we’re ready. We’re willing, we’re able, and we really privation this. It’s been 100 years. The Games person not been held connected immoderate ungraded successful Africa. The constituent of inclusivity is what Commonwealth is, and we anticipation that to our benefit,” helium added.

Tinubu further assured the delegation that Nigeria would supply each required infrastructure, information and hospitality up of the Games.

He stressed that the bid was not lone astir hosting the Games but astir leaving a bequest for the younker and for nationalist development.

The delegation was led by Director of Games and Assurance, and subordinate of the 2030 Evaluation Commission, Darren Hall.

Hall expressed restitution with Nigeria’s passionateness for sports, noting that the Commonwealth, present 56 nations strong, was striving for greater diverseness arsenic it approaches its 100-year milestone.

Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, made a lawsuit for Nigeria implicit India, the different bidder, pointing retired that Africa has 22 Commonwealth countries and Nigeria, arsenic the continent’s giant, deserved the honour of hosting.

“One happening I privation to guarantee you is that the President sees the hosting of the Commonwealth Games successful 2030, if we triumph the bid, arsenic a solemnisation of the country’s increasing unit successful sports, beyond conscionable participation,” Dikko said.

President of Commonwealth Sport Nigeria, Habu Gumel besides emphasised the country’s readiness to big an environmentally sustainable Games, portion Mainasara Illo, Chairman of the Bid Committee, outlined Nigeria’s proposal, which features 15 sports, with shot included to boost excitement and planetary engagement.

Nigeria and India are the 2 authoritative bidders for the 2030 Games, with Abuja and Ahmedabad arsenic their projected big cities.

The Commonwealth Games General Assembly volition determine the big metropolis successful November 2025 aft a afloat valuation of some bids.

Top authorities officials contiguous astatine the gathering included the Ministers of Information, Aviation, Culture, Police Affairs and Housing.