- Tinubu Pushes Sports Reform as Budget Rises to ₦113 Billion
- Each state receiving between 80 and 120 sets of footballs and jerseys
- Dikko disclosed that a detailed bill aimed at overhauling the country’s sports framework is on its way to the House
The Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Kabiru Amadu, has praised President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly for raising the 2025 sports budget to ₦113 billion, a 288 percent increase from the ₦29 billion allocated in 2024.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Amadu gave this commendation during the first distribution of sports equipment to principal officers and members of the House Committee on Sports, who will deliver them to their respective constituencies.
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He highlighted the importance of reviving grassroots sports development, calling it a strategic effort to identify talent, instill discipline, and promote social unity through sports.
According to him, the equipment will support 3,260 teams across the country, with each state receiving between 80 and 120 sets of footballs and jerseys.
Distribution will be managed by committee members and House leadership.
“Our goal is to build a sustainable sports ecosystem starting at the grassroots, where champions are discovered, talents nurtured, and characters built,” he said. “Investing in grassroots sports means investing in the dreams of our young people. Sports have the power to transform lives, but for too long, the focus has been on elite athletes. Today, we begin to change that narrative.”
Amadu emphasized that the items being distributed go beyond mere physical equipment, describing them as “symbols of opportunity, empowerment, and national progress.”
He urged lawmakers to ensure that the equipment reaches the intended recipients, stressing that the real value lies in the lives changed and talents discovered.
Also speaking, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mr. Shehu Dikko, underscored the importance of shifting Nigeria’s focus from competition-based sports to development-driven programs.
He noted that sports federations should move past only seeking funding for events and instead prioritize long-term development.
Dikko stated that essential reforms, legislative actions, and structural adjustments are in progress to make Nigerian sports more transparent, profitable, and appealing to private investors.
He projected that this new approach could generate two to three million jobs annually, increase foreign exchange revenue, and elevate sports into a national economic asset.
He disclosed that a detailed bill aimed at overhauling the country’s sports framework is on its way to the House.
The proposed legislation would establish development agencies and funding systems to support long-term progress.
He urged lawmakers to back the bill, describing it as a potential game changer.
In his remarks, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas welcomed the delegation and announced plans to create a National Sports Academy as part of efforts to promote sustainable sports development.
He also supported the call for renewed attention to grassroots sports as a key strategy to help Nigeria regain its former standing in international competitions.
