President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the constitution of the board of the Nigerian Anti-Doping Agency, marking a major compliance breakthrough for Nigeria’s sports sector and reinforcing the country’s standing as a clean sporting nation.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, disclosed the development on Thursday after briefing the President at the State House, Abuja. He described the move as a decisive step following nearly two decades of legislative delay surrounding the Anti-Doping Bill.
According to Dikko, President Tinubu signed the long-pending bill into law last year and has now approved the constitution of the agency’s board — a critical requirement set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
WADA has been on our case. Mr. President signed the bill last year after almost 20 years in hiatus, and now he has approved the constitution of the board. Already, Nigeria has been cleared and declared a clean country in sports. We are on the right track,” Dikko said.
FIFA Petition and World Cup Fallout
Dikko also addressed Nigeria’s pending petition before FIFA over alleged breaches by the Democratic Republic of Congo during the 2026 World Cup qualification playoffs.
Nigeria had lost the playoff ticket on penalties in November 2025 but filed a complaint alleging the fielding of unqualified players.
He clarified that the case is before FIFA’s independent disciplinary and ethics committees and expressed confidence in a fair outcome.
However, he stressed that Nigeria has shifted focus to upcoming competitions, including the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), as part of broader strategic planning.
Sports as an Economic Driver
Dikko described 2025 as a turning point under the NSC’s “Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Economy,” aimed at repositioning sports as a key contributor to national growth.
He revealed that sports contributed about 1.2 percent to Nigeria’s GDP in the third quarter of 2025, attracted roughly N50 billion in private investment, and generated nearly 140,000 jobs across the value chain.
Sports is no longer just about medals; it is about GDP contribution, jobs created and economic value,” he said.
The NSC chairman added that infrastructure development plans are under presidential review to strengthen both elite and grassroots facilities nationwide.
He highlighted initiatives such as the introduction of “Invited Junior Athletes” at the National Sports Festival and renewed collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education to revive school sports competitions, including the NUGA Games and the Principal’s Cup.
Dikko concluded by presenting a commemorative jersey to President Tinubu, citing what he described as unprecedented presidential support for timely release of sports funding.
Sports works with time. If monies are not released according to schedule, there will be problems. Mr. President has directed that once funds are due, they should be released immediately,” he said.
