Three states, Kano, Bayelsa and Kaduna, are bidding for the hosting right for the 2028 National Sports Festival.

The decision to call for bids for the 2028 National Sports Festival was taken at an extraordinary meeting of the National Council on Sports held on Wednesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

After the 22nd edition of the NSF to be hosted by Ogun State in the second week of May, the 23rd edition will hold in Enugu in 2026.

Among the three states bidding to host the 24th edition in 2028, only Kaduna has hosted the Games before. After the first two editions were held in Lagos in 1973 and 1975, Kaduna hosted the third edition, Kaduna ‘77’ as well as in 2009.

Kaduna and Bauchi states are among the four northern states that have hosted the National Sports Festival. The others are Kwara and Benue states.

The Guardian learnt, yesterday, that Kaduna is eager to host the National Sports Festival a third time to equal the record of Edo State, which hosted the Games in 1981 (under old Bendel State), 2002 and 2020. Only Lagos State has hosted the Games four times, 1973, 1975, 1989 and 2012.

A source at the National Council on Sports meeting hinted that Kano State might get the bid ahead of Kaduna and Bayelsa states because “many things will come into consideration in picking the winner for the host of 2028 National Sports Festival.”

The source added: “First, Kano has the biggest sports fan base in the country and the state has not hosted the National Sports Festival before. If Kano State government moves fast and meets the requirements by June/July, the 2028 hosting right may go to it.

“As for Bayelsa State, the consideration is that the National Sports Festival has been held in three South-South states, Edo, Rivers and Delta from 2011 to date. But if Kano fails to grab the opportunity, the choice will be between Bayelsa and Kaduna.”

Meanwhile, the host of this year’s festival, Ogun State, has declared its readiness to host one of the best Games in history.

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, who is the chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC) for the Games, said on Wednesday that everything needed to give Nigerian youths the best sporting event has been put in place by the government and people of Ogun State.

Olopade said in a communique issued at the end of the National Council of Sports meeting that during the games, all events must be concluded by 7.00 p.m. in Abeokuta to allow all the athletes and their officials to return to Babcock University, which hosts the Games Village for the sports festival.