Nigeria Eyes Hosting the 2031 African Games

Mallam Shehu Dikko, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), has indicated that Nigeria may submit a formal bid to host the 2031 African Games.

This announcement follows discussions at the Inter-regional African Ministerial meeting in Banjul, Gambia, where Dikko met with Minata Samara Cessounma, the African Union Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs, and Social Development.

Nigeria has a rich history with the African Games, having hosted the event twice before; first in Lagos in 1973 and later in Abuja in 2003. More than two decades since its last hosting, the country is eager to bring the continental multi-sport event back to its soil.

During the meeting, Dikko presented a paper titled ‘Building the Legacy of Major Sports Events’ and discussed with Cessounma the enhancement of the operations of the African Union Sports Council Region II, headquartered in Nigeria.

He mentioned that preliminary talks were initiated about Nigeria potentially hosting the 2031 games, among other collaborative sports development initiatives with the African Union.

Additionally, Dikko engaged with key figures in anti-doping, including Rodney Swigelaar, Director of WADA Africa, and Travis Tygard, CEO of the USA Anti-Doping Agency (USADA). They discussed strengthening Nigeria’s anti-doping framework and the legislative progress of the Nigeria Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) Bill.

Plans are also underway for a world-class anti-doping lab in Nigeria, intended to serve all of Africa, with commitments from both WADA Africa and USADA to support this venture.

The NSC chairman also met with Gambian President Adama Barrow and other top officials, including Vice President and Minister of Youth and Sports Bakary Badjie, to discuss further sports development initiatives.

Dikko emphasised the NSC’s commitment to continuing partnerships globally to enhance sports development in Nigeria, aiming to create a sustainable sports economy in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision.