5 hours ago
1
The House of Representatives Committee on Sports has advised the National Sports Commission, the Nigeria Football Federation and the National Institute for Sports to ensure the judicious utilisation of the over N94bn proposed for the sports sector in the 2025 fiscal year.
This is as the Chairman, House Committee on Sports, Kabiru Amadu commended President Bola Tinubu for significantly increasing the 2025 budget for the sports sector, from ₦29n in 2024 to over ₦94bn in 2025.
The lawmaker made the remarks on Tuesday during the budget defense session of the NSC, the NFF), and the NIS at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
Amadu said, “Ensure that this allocation is efficiently utilized for the development of sports in the country. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has tripled the sports budget from ₦29.08bn in 2024 to ₦94. 95bn in 2025. This represents a 227% increase in the expenditure framework.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is hereby commended for this giant stride in budgetary allocation to the sports sector. We hope this increment will mark a significant turning point in the development, administration, and management of sports activities in Nigeria.”
Amadu, who represents Gusau/Tsafe Federal Constituency, Zamfara State, expressed hope that the increased budget allocation would address several challenges in the sports sector.
He listed the challenges in the sector to include the decay of sports infrastructure, particularly the national stadiums, insufficient funding for over 40 sports federations, the lack of sustainable development plans, and inadequate manpower and training.
He pledged the committee’s support for the sector for the overall development of sports and sporting activities in the country.
“The House Committee on Sports assures the NSC, NFF, and NIS of total support to facilitate the release of funds from the federal government. This support will drive sports development, particularly at the grassroots level,” he said.
In his presentation, the Chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko, said commission is planning to upgrade the Abuja National Stadium and other stadia across the country.
Dikko also revealed plans to rebrand and commercialize 200 hostels within the NFF building.He further disclosed that the commission intends to construct 100 mini-stadiums across the country as part of efforts to boost sports development at the grassroots level
“The commission is committed to revitalising Nigeria’s sports sector in line with global best practices,” Dikko said.
English (US) ·