ABUJA, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu orders a comprehensive reset of Nigeria’s sports funding system, directing that reforms take effect from the 2026 fiscal year to improve performance, sustainability and commercial growth.
Announcing the decision on Friday, Tinubu says fragmented funding and bureaucratic delays have undermined athlete preparation and infrastructure investment. “Sports must function as an economic sector, not a budgetary afterthought,” he states.
The President instructs the Ministries of Finance and Budget, alongside the Budget Office, to guarantee predictable annual funding for athlete development, facilities, training programmes and international competitions.
“Athletes require timely financial support,” Tinubu says, mandating that approved funds be released immediately after budget assent.
Under the new framework, all sports-related allocations scattered across agencies will be consolidated under the National Sports Commission (NSC). Any savings will be redirected to grassroots and elite sports development.
The reforms fall under the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE), targeting scientific training systems and Nigeria’s capacity to host global sporting events.
Tinubu highlights recent progress, noting that Nigerian athletes won 373 medals in 2025, and commends NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko for driving structural reforms.
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