There is uneasy calm in Asaba, Delta State, over the hosting rights for the 10th National Youth Games (NYG) in 2026, following claims by officials of the Delta Sports Commission that there are moves to take the Games to Lagos State despite their earlier Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government in 2023 to host the event for four years.

After the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, hosted the NYG five times, Delta State, which is currently hosting the ninth edition, signed an MoU with the Federal Government in 2023 to host four editions of the Games. The state hosted the Games in 2023, 2024 and the current one, while still looking forward to staging the 10th edition in 2026.

However, to douse the brewing tension, the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, dismissed reports suggesting that Lagos State has been confirmed as the host of the 2026 edition, insisting that no decision has been made and due process would be used to determine the next host.

Olopade, who spoke at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, clarified that the official handover of the championship flag to the next host state will hold at the closing ceremony of the ongoing edition on September 7.

“Lagos has not been awarded the hosting rights,” Olopade said. “The process is still ongoing, and the decision will be made transparently. The handover will be done here in Asaba, not before.”

Delta officials said they became worried after NSC officials recently visited Lagos to inspect sporting facilities and assess the state’s readiness to host the 2026 NYG.

According to Olopade, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has the sole responsibility to award the hosting right to any state, saying: “With the federal government scrapping the Sports Ministry and replacing it with the NSC, every decision regarding the administration of sports in Nigeria lies in the hands of the NSC. But as I said, Lagos is yet to be awarded the hosting right for the 2026 NYG. That will be made known at the closing ceremony of the ninth edition here in Asaba.

Meanwhile, Team Edo has demonstrated its desire to make a bold statement at the ongoing youth games, winning six gold medals so far in the weightlifting event.

Chairman of Edo Sports Commission, Amadin Enabulele, had told The Guardian that his state was well prepared for the Games, boasting that Team Edo would surprise many Nigerians at the end of the competition in Asaba.

In cycling, Team Kwara grabbed a gold medal yesterday morning through the effort of Abdulrasak Falilat in the female 40km road race event.