Abuja: President Bola Tinubu has approved a comprehensive reset of sports funding in Nigeria, directing economic management authorities to ensure adequate and timely financing from the 2026 fiscal year. The president announced the policy in a message posted on his verified X handle, describing sports as one of Nigeria’s strongest national brands and an instrument for unity and international visibility. He directed that annual budgetary allocations for sports infrastructure, programmes, events, and international competitions be provided and released immediately after budget passage and assent.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Tinubu also ordered a review of allocations for sporting activities currently spread across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). He directed that such allocations be restructured and streamlined, with savings transferred into a unified funding framework under the National Sports Commission (NSC). The president emphasized the significance of sports in fostering national unity and international recognition, highlighting the achievements of Nigerian athletes in 2025, including individual champions and successful national teams.
The president said the reforms were anchored on the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE), which positions sports as a strategic driver of job creation, tourism development, private investment, and Nigeria’s global influence. Tinubu’s administration aims to build a functional sports ecosystem through scientific elite athlete development, expanded grassroots participation, revitalized federations, and hosting major international events at home.
Tinubu acknowledged longstanding challenges in sports administration, such as bureaucratic delays, fragmented funding structures, and late release of funds. He noted that these issues have undermined athletes’ preparation and performance, placing them at a disadvantage. The president also highlighted the need for adequate investment in sports infrastructure that meets international benchmarks, assuring Nigerians that the future of sports would be properly planned, adequately funded, and globally competitive.
The President commended the NSC for its progress despite prevailing challenges and praised the leadership of the commission under its Chairman, Malam Shehu Dikko, for driving reforms to reset, refocus, and relaunch the sector. He reiterated the importance of providing certainty for Nigerian athletes, emphasizing that they deserve support and structure to excel on continental and global stages.