The 2025 National Council on Sports (NCS) meeting in Calabar, Cross River State, arrived with considerable expectations. With the theme “Business of Sports- Creating Jobs, Wealth and Utility Under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the Council promised a forward-looking transformation of Nigeria’s sports sector. The communiqué issued at the end of the meeting outlined sweeping reforms: new governance structures, streamlined sports disciplines, mandatory athlete insurance, criminalisation of age-cheating, and the introduction of the National Intermediate Games.

On the surface, the resolutions appear bold and ambitious. But beyond the official declarations lies an urgent need for deeper interrogation. The reforms raise critical questions about feasibility, structure, governance, funding, and long-term impact. A closer look at the communiqué reveals both commendable intentions and troubling gaps that could undermine effective implementation if not urgently addressed.

A Welcome Shift: From Social Recreation to Sports Business

One of the most notable outcomes of the Council meeting is the affirmation of a “business of sports” philosophy. This marks a major ideological shift in Nigerian sports development. For decades, Nigerian sports has been treated largely as a recreational and competitive activity driven by government subventions, seasonal events, and ad hoc interventions. The new orientation seeks to reposition sports as an economic sector capable of generating jobs, wealth, and private investments, similar to what we see in South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, and even smaller African nations like Rwanda.

This shift deserves commendation. It is forward-looking, globally aligned, and capable of revitalising an industry long constrained by limited funding and bureaucratic bottlenecks. However, the communiqué stops short of articulating a clear national sports business model. There is no mention of investment incentives, taxation frameworks, revenue-sharing structures, or long-term sustainability plans. Without these essentials, the business-of-sports concept risks becoming a political slogan rather than a practical policy direction.

Mandatory Insurance: Strong in Vision, Weak in Structure

Another positive resolution is the introduction of mandatory insurance coverage for athletes, officials, and accompanying delegations at national competitions. This is long overdue. Every professional sports industry around the world prioritises athlete safety, career protection, and welfare. Nigeria’s sports ecosystem has lost too many athletes to preventable injuries, poor medical access, and post-retirement neglect.

Yet the resolution raises pressing questions:
Who pays for the insurance?
Which companies are eligible providers?
What are the minimum coverage limits?
Are states many of which struggle to fund sports contingents able to comply?

In its current form, the insurance policy is an admirable idea, but it lacks operational clarity. Without a standardised insurance framework, cost structure, and enforcement mechanism, the policy may encounter immediate resistance from states and federations.

Age-Cheating Criminalisation: Necessary, But Insufficient

Age-falsification remains one of Nigeria’s most embarrassing sports problems. From football to athletics, the shadows of age-cheating have followed the country for years, eroding credibility and undermining talent development. The NCS decision to criminalise age-falsification, including sanctions ranging from suspension to permanent bans, signals a serious attempt to restore integrity.

However, punishment alone cannot solve a deeply systemic issue. For age-cheating to truly be curbed, Nigeria needs:

a national biometric sports database,

standardised age-verification protocols,

integration with NIMC, population registries, and sporting bodies,

compulsory digital profiling of all youth athletes.

The communiqué provides sanctions without providing the verification mechanism. This is akin to declaring a war without building an army.

Proliferation of New Boards: Reform or Bureaucracy?

The Council announced the creation or strengthening of multiple boards:

Diaspora Athletes Development Board,

National Sports Infrastructure Development & Management Board,

National Dispute, Arbitration & Resolution Board,

National Sports Development Fund,

Zonal Centres expansion.

In theory, these sound progressive. But Nigeria already grapples with an overwhelming number of committees, taskforces, and bureaucratic structures. Creating additional bodies without identifying existing inefficiencies risks adding more layers of administration rather than solving governance problems.

The communiqué does not explain how these boards will be funded, structured, or held accountable. The danger is that well-meaning reforms could collapse under administrative weight.

Streamlining Sports Disciplines: Efficiency or Marginalisation?

The Council also approved a reduction in the number of sports to be featured in certain national competitions. This strategic focus could allow Nigeria to channel resources into key sports where it has comparative advantage.

On the other hand, the absence of transparent criteria for the sports that will be removed raises equity concerns. Lesser known federations may interpret this as marginalisation. Emerging sports, which are gaining global momentum such as mixed martial arts, climbing, or e-sports may suffer setbacks.

Without a clear plan for supporting affected federations, the policy risks deepening the gap between “big” sports and underfunded ones.

The National Intermediate Games: Filling a Gap, But Lacking a Framework

The introduction of the National Intermediate Games for athletes aged 17 to 20 years appears to bridge the developmental gap between youth competitions and elite competitions. This is a good step, as many talents are lost during this age transition.

However, the communiqué again fails to address:

funding,

calendar alignment,

host selection,

anti-doping structure,

linkage to Nigeria’s long-term performance goals.

The risk is the creation of yet another event without adequate funding or structure.

The Missing Links: Where the Communiqué Fell Short

Beyond the highlighted policies, the most concerning issues in Nigerian sports were conspicuously missing from the resolutions.

1. Silence on School Sports and Physical Education

This is the most glaring omission. No country succeeds in sports without a strong Physical Education (PE) and school sports foundation. Yet the communiqué is silent on:

PE curriculum implementation,

grassroots talent discovery,

school competitions,

teacher training,

linkages between schools and federations.

This omission leaves a foundational gap. Without PE, Nigeria will continue to rely on accidental talent rather than systematic development.

2. No Comprehensive Funding Framework

The resolutions introduced multiple new policies, events, and governance bodies yet none are backed by a financing model. Effective sports economies rely on:

PPPs,

private-sector sponsorship,

broadcast rights,

ticketing,

merchandising,

facility rentals,

investments and taxation policies.

The communiqué presented ambitions without financial architecture, which risks rendering the resolutions impractical.

3. Over-centralisation and Possible State Pushback

Some resolutions impose financial or regulatory obligations on states without providing enabling support. Nigeria’s constitution makes sports a concurrent responsibility, meaning states may resist policies that impose burdens without consultation or assistance.

4. No Measurable KPIs or Timelines

A policy without timelines, measurable indicators, or evaluation systems becomes a statement of intent rather than a practicable roadmap. The communiqué outlines goals but omits:

completion dates,

monitoring mechanisms,

responsible officers,

expected outcomes.

Without these, accountability weakens.

5. No Reference to Technical Education, Sports Science, and Research

Modern sports rely heavily on:

sports medicine,

biomechanics,

performance analytics,

coaching certification,

officiating standards.

Ignoring this dimension sidelines universities, sport institutes, and research bodies that could anchor sustainable development.

6. Weak Athlete-Centred Approach

Athletes  the cornerstone of the industry were largely absent in the resolutions. There was no mention of:

athlete unions,

career transition programmes,

education support,

anti-harassment rules,

mental health frameworks.

A truly modern sports reform must prioritise athlete well-being.

Risks Ahead: Implementation Challenges

Even the best policies fail without effective implementation. The Calabar resolutions face the following risks:

inadequate funding,

political instability,

weak inter-agency coordination,

resistance from federations,

legal loopholes,

lack of technical expertise,

duplication of bureaucracy.

Unless these risks are proactively addressed, the reforms may not survive beyond paper.

What the Council Should Have Done

While the resolutions represent progress, the Council could have strengthened its communiqué by:

issuing a National Sports Business Masterplan,

creating a unified national sports database,

defining a clear insurance funding structure,

linking reforms to school sports and PE,

prioritising facility maintenance over new boards,

establishing key performance indicators for all resolutions,

integrating universities, research bodies, and sport institutes.

These additions would have anchored the reforms in real world practicality and long term sustainability.

Conclusion

The National Council on Sports demonstrated a commendable desire to modernise Nigeria’s sports landscape. The resolutions reflect ambition, strategic thinking, and a readiness to embrace global standards. However, ambition must be matched with structure. Vision must be accompanied by execution plans. And reforms must address foundational problems not just surface level symptoms.

Without clear funding, timelines, accountability mechanisms, and integration with grassroots sports development, the Calabar resolutions risk becoming another set of well-intentioned documents that fail to transform the sector.

Nigeria stands at a pivotal moment in its sports history. The decisions taken now will define the country’s sporting identity for the next decade. It is therefore imperative for policymakers, federations, states, educators, private investors, and consultants to collaborate and refine these reforms into actionable, sustainable strategies capable of delivering the future Nigerian sports truly deserves.