The Director General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), H.E. Comrade Philip Shaibu, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as a historic intervention in Nigerian sports funding, following the President’s directive that all budgetary allocations for sports be released immediately after budget passage.

 

In a personally signed message to President Tinubu, Comrade Shaibu said the directive has effectively eliminated long-standing bureaucratic bottlenecks that have hindered the growth and development of sports in Nigeria over the years.

 

“President Tinubu has broken yet another jinx as a jinx breaker, for his visionary and timely directive aimed at ending bureaucratic delays in sports financing in Nigeria,” Shaibu said. “This is a resounding thank-you message to you, our amiable President. You have not only offered the platform for service but have also provided the enabling environment and tools which have been the missing link in the history of Nigerian sports.”

 

The NIS Director General, who expressed deep satisfaction with the development, described the move as a major milestone in the administration of sports in the country. He noted that he had personally been at the forefront of advocacy against the bureaucratic funding process, which he said had repressed the growth of Nigerian sports for decades.

 

“I am indeed proud to be alive to witness this revolution in Nigerian sports,” Shaibu stated.

 

According to him, the President’s bold intervention will significantly improve the planning, execution and sustainability of sports programmes nationwide. He explained that timely access to funds would ensure the completion of critical sports infrastructure projects, the upgrading of training facilities, and the procurement of modern equipment that meets international standards.

 

Shaibu also praised President Tinubu’s directive to review sports-related budgetary allocations currently spread across various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), describing it as a step that will enhance coordination, transparency and efficiency in sports administration.

 

The immediate past Deputy Governor of Edo State added that the restructuring would strengthen sports as a national institution, eliminate duplication of roles, and allow for more strategic investment in athlete development and capacity building.

 

“The National Institute of Sports believes that this decision will reposition sports as a viable tool for youth empowerment, national unity, economic growth and global recognition,” he said, noting that the move aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda’s focus on institutional reforms that deliver measurable outcomes.

 

Shaibu concluded by reaffirming NIS’s commitment to supporting policies that advance the growth and professionalism of sports in Nigeria.