Other Sports
Nigerian Legislators Investigate Sports Bodies’ Dissolution
The Nigerian House Committee on Sports has set up a committee to look into petitions by 11 national sports federations on the dissolution of their executive committees before the end of their tenure.
According to a media statement from the Nigerian Ministry of Youth and Sports, the federations are those of aquatics, boxing, cycling, golf, hockey, kick boxing, kung fu, rowing, sailing and yachting, scrabble, shooting and rugby.
The press statement signed by the special adviser to the minister on media, Nkem Anibeze reports that the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Hon Buka Goni Lawal made it known on Monday that the federations had petitioned the Ministry of Youth and Sports for dissolving their boards before their tenure elapsed.
“These federations wrote a petition stating that their tenure will expire in November and not in May like some other federations.
“We have no personal interest in any sport and we cannot rule or take sides until we have heard from the Ministry and the Nigeria Olympic Committee.
“A motion was moved by one of the members based on petitions and complaints from the listed federations.
“The second petition is on the performance of the 2016 budget. So many projects of 2016 were not implemented,” Hon. Lawal stated.”
In his response, the Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung said it was only fair to be served copies of the petitions before summoning him to appear for defence.
“I have listened to the issues you presented and my response is that it will only be fair for the ministry to have copies of the petitions written against us because if someone is complaining against you, and you don’t even know the complaint against you and you’re invited to respond, you won’t be able to say anything.
“We have not seen and don’t have copies of the petitions and so it will be difficult for us to respond. I will appeal to the chairman to make copies of these petitions available to us to study and give our response accordingly.”
Dalung also appealed to the House to avail the ministry a list of projects identified in 2016 that have not been given adequate attention to enable him to do an in-house verification and inform the House Committee on the performance of these projects.
The House Committee adjourned its meeting with the Ministry until Thursday.
The Committee will be chaired by the Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Hon Anayo Nnebe. Other members will comprise the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Director of Federations and the Technical Committee of the House of Representatives.
The stage is set for the 3rd National Para Games, Nigeria’s largest and most prestigious para sports event, scheduled to hold from March 26 to April 3, 2026, in Abuja.
For nine days, the nation’s capital will host more than 3,000 athletes representing all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, competing across 15 different sports in what promises to be a vibrant celebration of resilience, excellence and inclusion. Organisers say champions will emerge, records will tumble, and new chapters will be written in Nigeria’s para sports history.
The Games are being organised by the National Sports Commission, which describes the event as a critical platform for talent discovery, national unity and the advancement of para sports development across the country.
Since its inception, the National Para Games has evolved into a cornerstone of Nigeria’s sporting calendar, spotlighting the remarkable abilities of athletes living with disabilities while reinforcing the country’s commitment to inclusive participation in sports.
Officials say the 2026 edition will surpass previous outings in scale, organisation and competitive intensity. With participation confirmed from every state of the federation and the FCT, the Games are expected to reveal the depth of talent spread nationwide and provide a pathway for standout performers to progress to continental and global competitions.
In a significant boost to preparations, the National Youth Service Corps has partnered with the Commission by releasing its Orientation Camp in Kubwa, Abuja, to serve as the official Games Village. The facility will accommodate athletes and officials throughout the competition, offering a secure and community-focused environment designed to foster camaraderie and peak performance.
The collaboration reflects a broader inter-agency commitment to empowering young Nigerians and promoting social integration through sport. It also underscores growing national recognition of para athletes as integral contributors to Nigeria’s sporting success.
With anticipation building and logistics nearing completion, Abuja is poised to welcome thousands of competitors and supporters for what promises to be a defining celebration of courage, competition and collective pride.
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By Keresifon Essien
Akwa Ibom State will parade a strong contingent of about 280 athletes and 44 officials at the 2026 Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), scheduled to hold in Benin City, Edo State, from February 20 to 28.
The State Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the Curator of Keresy Sports Museum (KSM), Keresifon Essien, noting that Team Akwa Ibom will compete in 16 sporting events at the regional multi-sports fiesta.
According to Bassey, the sports in which the state will feature include football, basketball, volleyball, handball, table tennis, badminton, lawn tennis, boxing, wrestling, judo, karate, taekwondo, weightlifting, swimming and chess.
To ensure optimal preparation, the state government has constituted a five-man State Liaison Committee to oversee arrangements for the festival. The committee is chaired by the Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey.
Other members of the committee are Coach Catherine Ewa Ekuta, Head of Technical; Guinness World Record holder George Essien; Edidiong Stephen, a member; and Mfon Bassey, who serves as Secretary.
Bassey explained that the committee has been mandated to fine-tune all preparations for the festival, beginning with the state trials scheduled for this weekend, and to ensure that the contingent arrives in Benin City fully prepared and ready to project Akwa Ibom State positively at the Niger Delta Sports Festival.
He expressed confidence that with proper planning and early preparations, Team Akwa Ibom will make a strong impression when the festival proper begins.
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Team Nigeria on Monday afternoon departed the country for Cairo, Egypt, where they will compete in the 2025 World Karate Championship scheduled for November 27–30.
The nation will be represented by five outstanding athletes who have demonstrated exceptional discipline, consistency, and competitive grit in their buildup to the global event. The team is made up of:
- Loveth Ngozi Okoro – Kumite -50kg
- Godfirst Orie Ukoha-Sampson – Kumite -55kg
- Constance Tamunodiepreye Abode – Kumite -61kg
- Ujunwa Caroline Nwankwo – Kumite +68kg
- Oluwaseun Olorunbe – Male Kata
The athletes, who have undergone intense preparations, will be led by coach Efezino Akpotu, while Olusegun Abode serves as the leader of delegation.
Four members of the squad—Ngozi, Godfirst, Constance, and Ujunwa—are already well-known names on the domestic circuit. They are regular contenders at the Zainab Saleh International Female Open Karate Championship, an annual tournament founded by Hajiya Zainab Saleh, a Board Member of the Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN). The championship has been widely recognised for empowering and developing female karatekas across the country.
Ahead of the team’s participation, the Board of the KFN expressed confidence in the athletes’ ability to deliver strong performances on the world stage.
However, it also appealed to the National Sports Commission (NSC) for urgent financial support to offset debts incurred in ensuring Nigeria’s participation in the championship.
According to the federation, the World Karate Championship falls under the mandate of the NSC, and timely intervention is necessary to stabilise the federation’s operations after securing the team’s trip to Cairo.
Team Nigeria will now focus on making a strong impact as they join the world’s best karatekas in Egypt later this week.
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