Tinubu Announces Major Sports Reform, Orders Funding Reset From 2026

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has launched a comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s sports sector, directing key federal ministries and agencies to restructure funding and enhance the economic viability of the industry. According to official statements, the reform is part of the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE), a strategy aimed at leveraging sports to drive job creation, tourism, investment, and global influence.

Tinubu, in a statement posted on his verified X handle, @officialABAT, described sports as one of Nigeria’s strongest national brands and a vital tool for national unity. He emphasized that the reforms would strengthen the sports ecosystem through scientific elite athlete development, expanded grassroots participation, revitalized federations, and hosting major international events.

“Sports is our national asset and thus must be administered, managed, and funded in alignment with its special nature and demands, devoid of bureaucratic bottlenecks,” the President said. He pledged that Nigerian sports would be “planned, properly funded, and competitive,” assuring that athletes would receive early support, thorough preparation, and public recognition.

Highlighting the successes of 2025, Tinubu revealed that Nigerian athletes won an unprecedented 373 medals across all sports, with outstanding performances from individual champions, the female football and basketball teams, and the Super Eagles. He said these achievements demonstrate Nigeria’s capacity to excel when talent is matched with structured support and preparation.

The President commended the National Sports Commission (NSC) and its chairman, Malam Shehu Dikko, for advancing reforms aligned with the administration’s broader vision, while also acknowledging longstanding challenges, including delayed funding and inadequate infrastructure investment.

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“To end the cycle of underfunding, I have directed the Ministries of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, and the Budget Office of the Federation to reset sports funding beginning from the 2026 fiscal year,” Tinubu stated. He further instructed that all sports funds must be released immediately upon budget approval and that allocations currently scattered across various ministries be streamlined under a unified NSC funding framework to strengthen domestic programs and international participation.

Nigerian athletes deserve certainty, not excuses,” the President concluded, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to making sports a cornerstone of national pride and global recognition.