President Bola Tinubu has mandated a sweeping reform of Nigeria's sports sector, initiating a reset of its funding mechanisms starting in the 2026 fiscal year. The objective is to enhance the industry's economic viability and its capacity to compete on the global stage.
The President communicated this directive on Friday through his official X account, @officialABAT, highlighting sports as one of Nigeria's most potent national assets and a powerful force for fostering unity and international prestige.
Tinubu acknowledged that the progression of sports development in Nigeria has been consistently hindered by bureaucratic delays, fragmented funding structures, and insufficient investment in essential infrastructure.
"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," he stated, further noting that sports infrastructure meeting international standards has not received adequate attention.
To tackle these persistent issues, the President has instructed the Ministries of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, along with the Budget Office of the Federation, to implement a revised sports funding plan commencing in 2026. He directed that sufficient budgetary allocations be secured annually for sports infrastructure, programmes, events, and participation in international competitions.
Tinubu further stipulated that funds allocated for sports activities must be disbursed promptly after the national budget is approved and signed into law, emphasizing that Nigerian athletes are entitled to predictability and timely support.
As a component of these reforms, financial allocations for sporting activities currently dispersed across various ministries, departments, and agencies will undergo a thorough review and consolidation. Any savings realized from this restructuring will be channeled into a unified funding framework managed by the National Sports Commission (NSC), aimed at bolstering both domestic programmes and Nigeria's international engagements.
The President indicated that these reforms are built upon the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE), which seeks to position sports as a key driver for job creation, tourism, investment, and global influence.
He added that his administration is committed to cultivating a more robust sports ecosystem by focusing on scientific elite athlete development, expanding grassroots participation, revitalizing sports federations, and successfully hosting major international sporting events.
"Sports is our national asset and must be administered, managed, and funded in alignment with its special nature, devoid of bureaucratic bottlenecks," Tinubu asserted.
Citing recent successes, the President revealed that Nigerian athletes secured a record-breaking 373 medals across all sporting disciplines in 2025. He referenced strong performances in athletics, football, basketball, and other sports, indicating that these achievements underscore Nigeria's latent potential when talent is adequately supported by structure and preparation.
Tinubu extended his commendation to the NSC for the progress achieved despite prevailing challenges and praised its leadership under Chairman Shehu Dikko for spearheading reforms that align with his administration's Renewed Hope Agenda.
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