Barely 48 hours after the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Forum of Directors of Sports in Nigeria (FDSN) “resolved” issues bordering on the number of events to be competed in this year’s National Sports Festival (NSF), tagged Coal City Games 2026, confusion still trails the contentious issue.

The aggrieved state directors had pointed out that the plan to reduce the number of events at this year’s event to 15 was against their interests, particularly since most of them had spent time and money preparing athletes for events slated for exclusion from the games.

At an extraordinary meeting of executive members and zonal representatives of the Forum with the NSC Director General, Bukola Olopade, last weekend in Abuja, it was agreed that the number of events be increased to 27.

At the meeting, Olopade explained that some team sports were not included in the first instance because “they are expensive” to be sponsored by the various states, especially as they attract only one medal, unlike individual sports.

But in a dramatic volte-face, the Forum, through its acting Chairman, Mr Nunayon Travih, told The Guardian, yesterday, that there was a need to put the record straight about the recent meeting with the leadership of the NSC.

“The Forum hereby categorically states that a recent publication that the number of sports has been increased from 20 to 27 for the Coal City Games was neither authorised nor officially issued by the Acting Chairman, Mr Nunayon Travih, the Secretary-General, Mr Tunde Ajibike, nor any authorised organ of the Forum.

“The publication does not represent the official position, resolutions, or communique of the Forum of Directors of Sports Nigeria at a recent engagement meeting held with the leadership of the NSC, led by the Director-General, Bukola Olopade, in Abuja.

“During the meeting in Abuja, we discussed the proposed restructuring of the National Sports Festival and the selection of compulsory and optional sports for future editions of the Games and other national competitions, as agreed and approved at the last National Council for Sports in Calabar, Cross River State, 2025.

“At the meeting, Olopade provided detailed explanations on the rationale behind the Selected Sports and restructuring of the festival format. It was emphasised that the National Sports Festival remains the exclusive property and responsibility of the NSC, which reserves the right to determine its organisational structure, operational framework, and competition format in line with national sports development objectives and international best practices,” he said.

Travih, who is the Director of Sports, Lagos State Sports Commission, added: “The proposed reduction and streamlining of sports were presented as part of deliberate efforts aimed at reducing the financial and logistical burden on host states, encouraging more states to bid for and successfully host the Games, enhancing organisational efficiency and effective event management, and aligning the Festival with contemporary global sporting realities and practices, including models adopted at the Commonwealth Games and similar multi-sport events.”

He said that at the conclusion of the meeting, 15 compulsory sports and five optional ones were selected, adding, “the compulsory sports are athletics and para athletics, badminton and para badminton, basketball and wheelchair basketball, boxing, cycling, football, gymnastics, judo, mixed m”artial arts, swimming, table tennis and para table tennis, tennis, taekwondo, weightlifting and para powerlifting and wrestling.

The optional sports, according to him, are cricket, canoeing and para canoeing, darts, golf, shooting and para shooting.
“The confusion appears to arise from the inclusion of Para Sports categories, which are internationally recognised as integral components and competitive divisions under their respective primary sports, and not separate or independent sports.

“The inclusion of Para Sports remains consistent with global best practices in inclusive sports development and does not alter the approved number of sports for the National Sports Festival.”

Travih revealed that the Forum made several professional submissions and observations, including advocacy for the inclusion of additional team sports and broader participation opportunities for athletes across the Federation.

“These submissions were made constructively and in the collective interest of strengthening sports development, inclusiveness, and effective sports administration in Nigeria.

“The Forum also acknowledged the prevailing economic realities and the need for practical reforms capable of reducing the financial and logistical demands associated with hosting the National Sports Festival, thereby encouraging more states to indicate interest in hosting future editions of the Games.

“The Forum remains committed to constructive engagement and collaboration with the National Sports Commission and all relevant stakeholders in the overall interest of sustainable sports development and national unity through sports,” he stated.