Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Malam Shehu Dikko, says the Federal Government is determined to protect the integrity of Nigerian sports by enforcing strict measures on athletes’ real age verification and anti-doping compliance.
Dikko made this known on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) organised to review the committee’s activities for 2025.
“Age falsification and doping violations will no longer be tolerated under the ongoing sports reforms,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria has cleared all outstanding anti-doping issues and is now globally recognised as a clean sporting nation.
“This followed the signing of the Anti-Doping Bill and the clearance granted by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
“Everything required to make Nigeria a clean country in sports has been done.
“We have resolved the issues that took us to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and today Nigeria is recognised globally as a clean country in terms of doping,” Dikko said.
He disclosed that a fully operational Anti-Doping Agency would soon be in place, adding that funds had already been provided in the national budget for the construction of an anti-doping laboratory in the country.
On age integrity, the NSC chairman said the commission had established an Integrity Unit to address age discrepancies across sports federations.
He noted that sanctions had been approved for anyone found guilty of breaching age regulations.
“Some of the age-related issues are cumulative and dates back many years.
“While some discrepancies may be due to poor data entry, accuracy matters, we will police federations, coaches and athletes to ensure compliance,” he said.
Earlier, the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Habu Gumel, described the AGM as a statutory obligation and a vital platform to review the activities of the Olympic and Commonwealth Games Fund.
Gumel commended the close collaboration between the NOC and the NSC, saying it had contributed to improved performances by Nigerian athletes at international competitions.
He disclosed that about 54 national teams across various sports federations participated in international competitions in 2025, with only four returning without medals.
The Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, who corroborated this, said the medal haul recorded by Nigerian teams reflected improved planning, stronger partnerships with federations.
He also said that it was a deliberate focus on podium performances rather than mere participation.
Olopade who was represented by one of his aides, noted that most of the international outings were supported by the commission, while federations also made significant contributions to ensure athlete participation.
He described the federations as key operational partners in the sports development process.
The NOC president also highlighted ongoing reforms, including the success of the Elite Athlete Development Board, plans to establish a Diaspora Athletes Board by 2026, and efforts to institutionalise integrity, infrastructure development and dispute resolution mechanisms in sports.
Gumel further said that Nigeria’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games had been adjudged credible, with discussions ongoing towards a possible hosting opportunity in 2034.
“Nigeria remains one of the leading bidders for the African Games.”
He lauded President Tinubu for approving the prioritisation of sports funding in the national budget, directing that funds allocated to sports be released immediately after budget passage.
Gumel anlso commended Tinubu for consolidating sports-related allocations into a central sports development pool.
According to him, the decisions would guarantee predictable funding for preparations for the Commonwealth Games, Olympic Games and elite athlete programmes, as well as improved welfare for retired athletes.
Themomentng reports that the AGM was attended by officials of international sports federations, representatives of the Association of National Olympic and Committees of Africa (ANOCA).
Others in attendance were presidents of national sports federations and other stakeholders in the Nigerian sports sector.
