In a landmark stride for national sports development, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has officially secured Bayelsa State and Kaduna State as hosts for the 2028 and 2030 editions of the National Sports Festival (NSF).
The announcement marks two major milestones:
Bayelsa State will host the festival for the first time in history in 2028.
Kaduna State will host again in 2030—its third time after successfully staging the event in 1977 and 2009.
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Director General of the NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, described the confirmation of two future host states as a strong indicator of the renewed appeal and credibility of the country’s biggest domestic sporting event.
He said both states demonstrated “full commitment and readiness to stage the festival at world-class standards.”
According to Olopade, this progress represents a clear shift from past years when the NSF struggled for structure, recognition, and sustainability.
“We are glad that we have made the Sports Festival attractive again, where states are now showing serious interest to host. This is as a result of how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has prioritised the Sports sector under his administration.”
He emphasized that securing 2028 and 2030 hosts aligns perfectly with the Commission’s RHINSE – Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy, aimed at revamping the festival’s structure, organisation, and global standardization.
Olopade recalled that the 2025 National Sports Festival in Ogun State was widely regarded as “the best ever”, but assured that the bar will be raised even higher with the next editions.
“We are raising the bar further with the 2026 Games in Enugu, and now the 2028 and 2030 Games in Bayelsa and Kaduna States respectively.”
With long-term hosting plans secured, the NSC says Nigeria is set for a new era of structured, competitive, and professionally organized National Sports Festivals
