President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a comprehensive reset of sports funding in Nigeria, directing the nation’s economic management authorities to ensure adequate and timely funding for the sector from the 2026 fiscal year.
The President announced the policy direction in a message posted on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, describing sports as one of Nigeria’s strongest national brands and an instrument for national unity and international visibility
Emphasising that athletes deserve certainty, not excuses, President Tinubu directed that annual budgetary allocations for sports infrastructure, programmes, events and international competitions be provided and released immediately after budget passage and assent.
He further directed that allocations for sporting activities currently spread across Ministries, Departments and Agencies be reviewed, restructured and streamlined, with savings transferred into a unified funding framework under the National Sports Commission to strengthen domestic programmes and Nigeria’s participation in international competitions.
“In 2025, from individual champions in athletics and other sports, to our winning female football and basketball teams as well as the Super Eagles who despite their bronze medal at AFCON2025, captured our hearts, scores of athletes representing Nigeria made our nation proud.
“Sports is one of our strongest brands as a nation. It unifies us, breaks all our fault lines, inspires belief, and builds a sense of community that cuts across age, language, ethnicity, religion, and social status.
“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.
In addition, allocations for sporting activities currently spread across MDAs will be reviewed, restructured and streamlined, with the savings transferred into a unified funding framework under the National Sports Commission to strengthen domestic programs and international sports participation.”
The President added that the reforms are 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.
“These reforms are anchored on the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy, RHINSE, which positions sports as a driver for job creation, tourism, investment, and global influence. In addition, through scientific elite athlete development, active grassroots participation, revitalised federations, and the hosting of major international events at home, we are building a sports ecosystem that works.
“Indeed, sports is our national asset and thus must be administered, managed, and funded in alignment with its special nature and demands, devoid of any bureaucratic bottlenecks.”
He identified that the administration is building a functional sports ecosystem through scientific elite athlete development, expanded grassroots participation, revitalised sports federations and the hosting of major international competitions in Nigeria.
The Nigerian leader recalled the nation’s sporting achievements in 2025, noting that athletes across various disciplines made the nation proud, including individual champions in athletics, the female football and basketball teams, and the Super Eagles, who won bronze at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
He disclosed that Nigeria won a cumulative 373 medals across different sports in 2025, describing the feat as evidence that when talent is supported with structure and adequate preparation, Nigerian athletes deliver at both continental and global stages.
“Over the past year, Nigerian athletes in various disciplines carried our flag with courage and pride across Africa and the world with Nigeria cumulatively winning an unprecedented 373 medals across all sports in 2025. From grassroots competitions to continental and global stages, the evidence is clear that when talent is supported with structure and preparation, Nigeria delivers.”
The President commended the National Sports Commission for its progress despite prevailing challenges, and praised the leadership of the Commission under its Chairman, Malam Shehu Dikko, for driving reforms aimed at resetting, refocusing and relaunching the sports sector in line with the Renewed Hope agenda and the administration’s shared prosperity vision.
“I commend the National Sports Commission for the progress and successes inspite of the challenges. I salute the leadership of the NSC under the chairmanship of Malam Shehu Dikko for driving the reform agenda towards the resetting, refocusing, and relaunching of the sports sector in alignment with the renewed hope agenda and shared prosperity vission of my administration.
“Yet we must be honest. 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.”
In addition, President Tinubu acknowledged longstanding challenges in sports administration, including bureaucratic delays, fragmented funding structures and late release of funds, which he said undermined athletes’ preparation and performance.
He also decried the lack of sustained investment in sports infrastructure that meets international standards, stressing that sports remain one of Nigeria’s strongest national brands, capable of uniting the country across ethnic, religious and social divides, while projecting Nigeria’s soft power globally.
“The future of Nigerian sports will be planned, properly funded, and competitive. We will support our athletes early, prepare them thoroughly, and celebrate them proudly.
“Nigeria will continue to win, with pride.” The President added.
He gave the assurance that the future of Nigerian sports would be properly planned, adequately funded and globally competitive, with early support and thorough preparation for athletes to enhance performance and national pride.