President Bola Tinubu has said Nigeria has made significant progress since independence in 1960, as he announced a sweeping reform of sports funding aimed at strengthening the country’s sporting sector from the 2026 fiscal year.

 

The President disclosed that he has approved a comprehensive reset of sports financing in Nigeria, directing economic management authorities to ensure adequate and timely funding for the sector beginning in 2026. Tinubu made the announcement in a message posted on his verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, where he described sports as one of Nigeria’s strongest national brands and a powerful tool for unity and global visibility.

 

According to the President, annual budgetary allocations for sports infrastructure, programmes, events and international competitions will henceforth be clearly provided for and released immediately after budget passage and presidential assent.

 

He also ordered a review of funds currently allocated to sporting activities across various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), directing that such fragmented allocations be restructured and streamlined. Tinubu said savings from the exercise would be transferred into a unified funding framework under the National Sports Commission (NSC).

 

“In 2025, from individual champions in athletics and other sports, to our winning female football and basketball teams as well as the Super Eagles, scores of athletes representing Nigeria made our nation proud,” the President said.

 

“Sports is one of our strongest brands as a nation. It unifies us, breaks all our fault lines, inspires belief, and builds a sense of community that cuts across age, language, ethnicity, religion, and social status.”

 

He explained that the reforms are designed to give athletes certainty and end excuses linked to poor preparation.

 

“I have therefore approved and directed the relevant ministries of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning and the Budget Office of the Federation for the resetting of sports funding. This is to ensure that henceforth, as from the 2026 fiscal year, adequate provisions are made annually in the national budget. Nigerian athletes deserve certainty, not excuses,” Tinubu stated.

 

The President said the reforms are anchored on the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE), which positions sports as a strategic driver of job creation, tourism development, private investment and Nigeria’s global influence.

 

“Sports is our national asset and thus must be administered, managed, and funded in alignment with its special nature and demands, devoid of any bureaucratic bottlenecks,” he added.

 

Tinubu said his administration is committed to building a functional sports ecosystem through scientific elite athlete development, expanded grassroots participation, revitalised sports federations and the hosting of major international competitions in Nigeria.

 

Recalling Nigeria’s sporting achievements in 2025, the President cited successes by individual athletes in athletics, the women’s football and basketball teams, and the Super Eagles, who won bronze at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. He also revealed that Nigeria won a total of 373 medals across different sports during the year.

 

According to him, the achievements demonstrate that when talent is supported with proper structure and preparation, Nigerian athletes can excel on continental and global stages.

 

Tinubu commended the National Sports Commission for making progress despite prevailing challenges and praised the leadership of its Chairman, Malam Shehu Dikko, for driving reforms aimed at resetting, refocusing and relaunching the sports sector.

 

He acknowledged longstanding problems in sports administration, including bureaucratic delays, fragmented funding systems, late release of funds and inadequate sports infrastructure that meets international standards, noting that these issues have often undermined athletes’ preparation and performance.

 

The President assured Nigerians that the future of sports under his administration would be properly planned, adequately funded and globally competitive.

 

“Nigeria will continue to win, with pride,” Tinubu said.