National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, on Wednesday, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for signing the Anti-Doping Bill into law.

According to the NSC Chairman, signing the bill, which has been in the works for close to two decades, into law reinforces Tinubu’s intentional resolve to ensure that the nation aligns with global anti-doping standards and overall sports development.

In a statement, the Director of Information and PR, NSC, Mrs. Kehinde Ajayi, said, “My sincere appreciation and gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR for speedily signing this bill into law. From day one, Mr. President has never hidden his desire to get this done and directed all parties involved to speed up actions to ensure the bill is concluded after lingering for close to two decades.

“Where there is a will, there must be a way. Mr. President put so much pressure for this bill to be concluded and brought to his table for assent.
“All our accomplishments within such a short time are down to the President’s support and encouragement. This is another clear manifestation of the presidential backing we are enjoying.

“Indeed, I must thank other critical stakeholders for working tirelessly to get this concluded as directed by Mr. President. I recall when we were appointed, one of the immediate focal action points directed by Mr. President is to ensure the immediate conclusion of the Anti-Doping Bill and thus we immediately got to work and engaged with all parties involved from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Sports Committees of both the House of Representatives and Senate, Clerk of the National Assembly, Legal representatives and indeed WADA officials.

“Accordingly, I must specially thank the Attorney-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice, Chairman Senate Committee on Sports, Chairman House Committee on Sports, Clerk of the National Assembly and other administrative staff, and the WADA Africa CEO for the brilliant collaboration and support to get the NADO Bill passed after close to two decades of back and forth and now duly assented by Mr. President.”

The Act domesticates the International Convention Against Doping in Sport and establishes an independent body charged with the responsibility for the implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards subscribed to by Nigeria.

Most importantly, this Act establishes the Nigeria Anti-doping Center, a development that excites Mallam Dikko.

“With this Act, Nigeria will become an anti-doping hub on the continent and the world as a whole as envisioned in the RHINSE framework. This aligns with Mr. President’s gracious approval in the 2025 Appropriations Act for the construction and equipping of a world class Anti-doping lab in Nigeria,” he said.