A historic set of decisions has emerged from the National Council on Sports held Friday, November 28, 2025, at the Kashim Shettima Hall, State Library Complex, Calabar, as Nigeria charts a bold new course for its sports development under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The meeting—held under the theme “Business of Sports: Creating Jobs, Wealth, and Utility under the Renewed Hope Agenda”—brought together top sports administrators, state delegates, and national stakeholders who collectively endorsed sweeping reforms aimed at strengthening institutions, enhancing athlete welfare, combating age-cheating, and expanding Nigeria’s sports economy.
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Key Highlights of the Council’s Resolutions
The Council:
commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his unprecedented support to sports, including the redesignation of the National Sports Commission (NSC);
praised Cross River State Governor Prince Bassey Edet Otu for hosting the Council with remarkable hospitality;
applauded the NSC leadership for adopting a business-driven, pragmatic approach that is already producing measurable improvements in the sector;
reviewed submissions on emerging risks in sports and emphasized the need for centralised insurance coverage for all athletes and officials participating in NYG, NIG, and NSF;
Major Structural Decisions
noted Enugu State’s preparations to host the 23rd National Sports Festival (Coal City Games) 2026;
approved the NSC’s decision to construct international standard swimming pools in the next three NSF host states, beginning with Enugu;
confirmed Bayelsa (2028) and Kaduna (2030) as hosts of upcoming National Sports Festivals, citing their massive sports infrastructure investments;
approved reducing the number of sports featured in the NSF to enhance efficiency and quality;
Anti-Doping & Compliance
approved the development of a Nigeria Anti-Doping Policy and mandated the NADC to lead its implementation;
noted that Nigeria’s WADA compliance status remains intact, enabling athletes to compete globally without sanctions;
New National Games Approved
Recognising the development gap between youth and elite levels, the Council:
approved the establishment of the National Intermediate Games (NIG) for athletes aged 17–20, creating a structured pathway between NYG and NSF;
announced Lagos State as host of the inaugural edition in 2026.
Zero Tolerance for Age Cheating
The Council instituted some of the strictest sanctions in Nigerian sports history, including:
disqualification, withdrawal of medals, and up to two-year bans for athletes;
suspension and permanent disqualification for erring coaches and officials;
₦10 million fines and potential criminal charges for offending states.
Expanded Stakeholder Participation
To align with the RHINSE agenda, the Council approved the inclusion of key national institutions such as the FIRS, NBS, CBN, BOI, NDIC, NNPC Ltd, NIPC, and the Federal Ministry of Education in the Council’s framework.
Next Host
Lagos State was commended for accepting to host the next National Council on Sports.
Issued in Calabar, Cross River State, this Friday, November 28, 2025.
SHEHU DIKKO
Chairman, National Sports Commission /
Chairman, National Council on Sports
