As the year 2026 began, conversations around the development of a new National Sports Policy had already begun. Committees will likely be inaugurated. Stakeholders will gather in hotels and conference halls. Consultants will draft documents. Policy reviewers will debate clause by clause. Government officials will issue speeches about “a new era for sports.” And millions of naira will once again be deployed toward creating another sports policy for Nigeria. But there is an uncomfortable national truth we must confront: Nigeria will soon be preparing to write a new sports policy when the 2022 National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) has not been implemented, institutionalized, or demonstrated by any major organ of government.
For decades, Nigeria has excelled at policy formulation. Our documents are often well-researched, beautifully written, and technically sound. But when it comes to implementation, turning words into action, we repeatedly fall short. In the sports sector, this failure is particularly damaging because the potential of sports to generate employment, unite the nation, empower youths, and diversify the economy remains largely untapped. Today, Nigeria’s sports sector stands at a crossroads. We must decide whether to continue the old cycle of drafting new policies without implementing the existing ones, or finally embrace the discipline of execution that can transform sports into a viable industry.

What the 2022 Sports Business Policy Promised

When the NSIP was launched in 2022, it was hailed as a groundbreaking shift from traditional, government-dependent sports management to a private-sector-driven sports economy. For the first time, Nigeria had a policy specifically designed to unlock the economic potential of sports through investment, commercialization, and partnership. The policy articulated a set of transformative goals aimed at repositioning sports as a strategic driver of national development. It sought to establish sports as a viable business sector, supported by tax incentives to attract private investors and stimulate sustainable growth. Central to the policy was the creation of a clear framework for public–private partnerships (PPPs) to accelerate the development of sports infrastructure across the country. It also emphasized the modernization of school sports as a foundation for talent development and lifelong participation, alongside the integration of sports technology, science, and analytics to enhance performance, management, and innovation. Furthermore, the policy envisioned Nigeria as a hub for the export of sports services, expanding the country’s footprint in the global sports economy. In fact, the 2022 NSIP was conceived not merely as a policy document but as a comprehensive blueprint for a sports-driven economic revolution in Nigeria

But Where Are the Results?

Three years after its launch, the reality on ground paints a different picture. The implementation of the NSIP has been minimal, inconsistent, and largely symbolic. Several states are unaware of its provisions. Many federal agencies have not aligned their programs with the policy’s goals. School sports remain under-funded and outdated. Coaches and physical educators lack the capacity-building structures promised. Sports infrastructure continues to deteriorate. Private investors remain skeptical because the incentives have not been clearly operationalized. Even the federal and state ministries of sports have not demonstrated the expected commitment to driving the policy. There has been no national implementation roadmap, no measurable targets, no annual scorecards, and no accountability mechanisms. The private sector, which was expected to lead the implementation, has remained hesitant unsure whether the government is truly ready to follow through.
This raises a critical question: If the 2022 policy has not been implemented, what exactly is the justification for drafting a new one in 2026?

A Brief Global Practice Comparison

Around the world, nations that have transformed sports into multi-billion-dollar industries treat policy implementation as a non-negotiable priority, not an optional gesture.
•    United Kingdom: After launching “Sporting Future” in 2015, the UK tied funding to measurable results. Agencies must publish annual scorecards, and any federation that fails to implement strategy loses government support.
•    Australia: The day the “Sport 2030 Plan” was unveiled, the implementation roadmap and funding mechanisms were released simultaneously. Implementation began immediately, not years later.
•    United States: Policies are backed by legislation such as Title IX, and the private sector is empowered through tax incentives, stadium bonds, and strict regulatory frameworks—ensuring continuity and investment confidence.
•    South Africa: The National Sport and Recreation Act mandates compliance. Provinces are evaluated annually, and funding is tied to execution.
These examples reveal one truth: successful nations do not write new policies while abandoning existing ones. They implement, monitor, enforce, and evaluate. This is the global gap Nigeria must close.

The Economic and Social Cost of Policy Wastefulness

Policy formulation in Nigeria is not cheap. Millions of naira go into drafting, reviewing, organizing retreats, and hosting stakeholder engagements. While consultation is important, the repeated cycle of policy-making without implementation is a wasteful national habit that Nigeria can no longer afford.

The implications of this wastefulness are profound and far-reaching. Valuable opportunities for youth development are lost, leaving many young people without pathways to participation, employment, or excellence in sport. Potential investors are discouraged, as the absence of implementation signals uncertainty and weak commitment. Athletes and coaches bear the brunt of this failure, operating in underfunded and poorly structured environments that limit performance and career growth. At the national level, the economy forfeits billions of naira in unrealized revenue, jobs, and international opportunities that a functional sports industry could generate. Over time, public confidence erodes, as citizens grow disillusioned with policies that exist only on paper. Nigeria cannot afford to continue wasting resources on drafting policies that are never translated into action.

Why Implementation Must Become Non-Negotiable

It is time for Nigeria to adopt a culture of execution in which policies are not merely written but implemented with discipline, consistency, and measurable outcomes. This shift requires deliberate and coordinated action across the sports ecosystem. A National Sports Industry Commission should be established to provide strategic leadership, regulation, and long-term direction for the sector. Implementation scorecards must be legally mandated to track progress, ensure transparency, and hold institutions accountable for results. Protected and ring-fenced funding mechanisms are essential to guarantee sustained investment and prevent the diversion of resources meant for sports development. In addition, state-level adoption of national sports policies must be enforced to ensure uniform implementation across the federation. Accountability structures should be strengthened so that responsibilities are clearly defined, performance is monitored, and failure to deliver carries consequences. Finally, continuity must be institutionalized to ensure that sports policies outlive political cycles and are implemented as enduring national commitments rather than temporary initiatives.

The 2026 Policy Plan: A Warning for Nigeria

If Nigeria moves ahead to develop a new sports policy in 2026 without first implementing the 2022 policy, it risks repeating a familiar and damaging cycle. New committees will be set up, fresh promises will be made, additional policy documents will be produced, and more public funds will be spent—yet the outcomes will remain unchanged. This pattern does not represent development; it is merely the recycling of failure. Before embarking on creating another policy framework, Nigeria must demonstrate clear, measurable, and tangible implementation of the 2022 National Sports Industry Policy. At a minimum, there should be evidence of substantial adoption—no less than 60–70 percent—across the federation. Only then can a new policy be justified as a progression rather than a repetition of unfulfilled intentions.

A Call to Government, Stakeholders, and the Nigerian People
The conversation about a new policy should not overshadow the urgent need to implement the existing one. The NSIP of 2022 is still relevant. Its provisions are still powerful. Its potential remains untapped. Policies do not implement themselves. Nigeria is therefore faced with a clear and consequential choice: to continue producing policies that remain confined to paper, or to commit to consistent and deliberate implementation capable of transforming sports into a thriving industry. The sports sector is far more than games and competitions; it is a powerful instrument for nation-building. It provides meaningful engagement for millions of young people, contributes to economic diversification, enhances global representation, and strengthens national pride.

As 2026 approaches, policymakers must bear in mind that drafting yet another policy without implementing the existing one will not move Nigeria forward. Progress will not be measured by the number of policy documents produced, but by the courage and discipline to execute those already in place. Nigerian sports stands at a critical crossroads, and ending the costly cycle of policy without implementation is essential to securing a sustainable and prosperous future for the sector.