The National Sports Commission (NSC) has concluded plans to establish an Integrity Unit as part of its ongoing reforms to make Nigeria one of the world’s leading sports countries. The body is also aimed at curbing age cheating in Nigerian sports, the NSC said.
 
The new drive is one of the fallouts of the recently concluded National Council on Sports meeting in Calabar, Cross River State, where several decisions were taken to revitalise the country’s sports development drive.
 
At the Calabar meeting, the NSC secured the approval to criminalise and institutionalise sanctions against age falsification in Nigerian sports. It has now taken a further step to create a more structural approach towards its fight against ethical misconduct in sports with its IU department.
    
NSC Director General, Bukola Olopade, said, yesterday, that the Integrity Unit will work closely with all sports federations, the anti-doping unit, athletes, and the Elite and Podium Board to achieve its goal.
 
Olapade said: “The Chairman, Shehu Dikko and myself are committed to institutionalising this reform because it will solve most of the problems Nigeria has been battling with in sports at the international level for many years.
 
“The Integrity Unit will ensure Nigeria, at all times, is in line with global best practices with the quality of athletes we present for international competitions in terms of both age integrity and doping conduct.
 
“As a top sporting country with a rich history in major international sporting competitions, we want to lay a very good foundation for our integrity profile to be very strong in the eyes of international Sports organisations,” he stated.
 
Meanwhile, a member of the panel set up by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to investigate the age discrepancy allegation against the country by the World Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), Mrs Mbora Ikana, has stepped down, citing “unavoidable circumstances and a tight schedule.”
 
In her place, the AFN, yesterday, named Ms Aku Aghazu, who is the federation’s second vice president. The AFN President Tonobok Okowa, is already absolving the federation of blame, insisting that the responsibility of presenting rightful birth dates, lies with athletes and coaches.
  
His comments have reinforced fears that the probe is designed to shield the federation officials rather than hold them accountable. Critics note that both AFN vice presidents now sit on the committee, alongside other federation insiders, a composition that undermines credibility and strengthens perceptions that the process is being managed to protect the leadership.