Nigeria may bid to host 2031 African Games

Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has revealed that Nigeria may submit a formal bid to host the 2031 African Games.

Nigeria has hosted the African Games twice, 1973 in Lagos and 2003 in Abuja.

Dikko’s revelation came after a meeting with African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Minata Samara Cessounma, in Banjul, The Gambia.

The meeting took place on the margins of the recently concluded Inter-regional African Ministerial meeting where Dikko presented a paper titled: “Building the Legacy of Major Sports Events”.

According to Dikko, the NSC aims “to collaborate to upscale and enhance the operations of African Union Sports Council Region II which Nigeria is hosting the headquarters and leading the process.”

“Preliminary exploratory discussions were also held to encourage Nigeria to consider making a bid to host the African Games 2031 among other collaborative initiatives between Nigeria and the Africa Union in advancing sports development in Africa,” Dikko stated.

Dikko also discussed Nigeria’s anti-doping framework with key stakeholders, just as he provided updates on the ongoing legislative work on the Nigeria Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) Bill and proposed building a world-class anti-doping lab in Nigeria.

“On the sidelines (of the Interregional African Ministerial Meeting), I engaged the Director of WADA Africa, Mr Rodney Swigelaar and the CEO of USA Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), Mr Travis Tygard in relation to Nigeria’s quest to strengthen our anti-doping framework.”

Dikko also met with The Gambian President, Adama Barrow, and other senior officials. He reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to sports development, stating, “The NSC will continue engaging with all stakeholders and colleagues across the globe in our quest to boost sports development in Nigeria hinged on sustainable frameworks and create a sports economy in Nigeria in line with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

Meanwhile, African ministers have applauded Nigeria’s sports reforms during the Interregional African Ministerial meeting.

The meeting discussed and reached agreements on steps to strengthen the governance of sports in Africa, fostering cooperation at the regional level, convergence for sports values, ethics and integrity, anti-doping programs while strategically positioning the continent in the global sports ecosystem.