Twelve years after Nigeria first bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games—and twenty years since it last hosted the African Games in 2003—Nigeria is again expressing interest in bringing the Commonwealth Games to Africa. As of 2025, Abuja has officially submitted its expression of interest for the 2030 Commonwealth Games, and works are very much in  top gear by the Mainasara Iloh led committee to fine tune the paperwork’s towards the actualization of this.

Yet, this renewed aspiration is shadowed by past disappointments. Many Nigerians believe that the promise of 2014 was betrayed in one way or another. The question now is: after those earlier perceived abuses and misleading assurances, can Nigeria trust the process, or more precisely, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and related stakeholders, to deliver a fair, transparent and reliable outcome for 2030?

To understand whether trust is possible now, we have to revisit 2014. Though Nigeria did bid to host the 2014 Games (it lost to Glasgow, Scotland), there were several controversies:

The Abuja’s 2014 bid—led by prominent figures including General Yakubu Gowon—carried strong messaging: Nigeria would host as part of not just a local event but symbolically for Africa’s progress, to mark its 100 years as a United country.  Many Nigerians placed hopes in that narrative. But after losing, questions lingered over how much was promised vs how much was viable.

Many Nigerians feel that political promises, media hype, and bureaucratic claims created inflated expectations—sometimes without the concrete logistical, financial or infrastructural support to back them up. Whether it was facilities, transport, or uniforms, the contrast between word‐and‐promise vs reality was stark in many corners, leading to awarding the hosting to Scotland which many believed were more prepared than Nigeria.

These cumulative botched dreams of Nigeria, did real damage: to Nigeria’s participation in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland. 
Team Nigeria’s participation in the Glasgow 2014 Games revealed serious shortcomings which fed into a broader narrative of lackadaisical approach in participation in the games. The Commonwealth Games Federation queried Nigeria over inconsistent jersey use among athletes—different colours, non‐uniform sponsors, and even athletes covering sponsor names with masking tape.  There were reports of the government failing to release funds to the federations and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) lacked sufficient to prepare their athletes properly. Preparation was described as poor.  With 24 hours to the start of the Games, some officials were openly pessimistic, doubting that Nigeria would replicate or better previous medal haul due to the lag in preparation.  

Fast forward to 2025: there are clear signs that Nigeria is trying a more strategic, more serious approach. Key among them:
President Bola Tinubu has given backing to the bid, with a letter of guarantee issued to the Commonwealth delegation.  There appears to be structural changes, such as replacing the Ministry of Sports with a National Sports Commission (NSC), with key officials expressing readiness to meet infrastructural, security, and hospitality requirements.  Nigeria met the deadline to submit its expression of interest by March 28, 2025. Formal bid will follow with the federal government continues its backing.  Part of the narrative now emphasizes not just hosting for prestige, but for lasting infrastructure, sports culture, economic impact, tourism, and youth development.  The bid is being evaluated alongside other bids (e.g. India). This may add pressure for clarity and compliance by CGF with its established standards.  

Trust must be earned. Here are some of the critical areas where doubts from 2014 could resurface, and what Nigeria needs to guard against or ensure now:

It’s also useful to consider how the CGF has behaved in other recent instances, because trust is bi‐directional: Nigeria must trust the CGF, but must also weigh whether the CGF has proven itself trustworthy.

The 2022 Commonwealth Games host (Durban, South Africa) pulled out due to financial constraints. The Games eventually were held in Birmingham instead.  For 2026, Victoria in Australia pulled out citing rising costs, and a “scaled‐down” version of the Games was planned instead.  These examples suggest that even among hosts with ostensibly more resources, there have been major challenges. The CGF has adapted, with greater emphasis now on sustainability, cost controls, and realistic bidding.  

Therefore, if Nigeria enters the process with full awareness of the risks, with strong planning, and with demands for transparency, there is a pathway for trust—but it must be built,
So, can Nigeria still trust the Commonwealth organizers (and the bid process) to deliver if Nigeria is chosen for 2030? The short answer is: Yes—but only if certain lessons are internalized and concrete changes are made.

Nigeria has reason to be hopeful if only the political backing seems stronger. Institutional reforms are underway. If the needed there is public awareness and media expectation, which can serve as checks.

The CGF itself is more mindful now of cost, sustainability, and legacy than perhaps it was many decades ago. But Nigeria must also demand full transparency in CWGF dealings in the bid processes. 

If Nigeria plays its cards well, it can transform the bitter memories of 2014 into a legacy of success in 2030—not just for Nigeria, but for Africa. If not, much of the distrust will be validated, and future ambitions will be more difficult to sustain.