Dikko backs Nigeria’s bid to host 2030 Commonwealth Games

National Sports Commission chairman Shehu Dikko has thrown his weight behind Nigeria’s bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, describing it as a confident step on the country’s sports development journey, The PUNCH reports.

Nigeria officially expressed interest in bidding to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Abuja, meeting the March 28 deadline for submissions. The announcement was made after a meeting of executives of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, held on April 3 in Abuja.

In a statement released by Tony Nezianya, NOC’s Public Relations Officer, the committee confirmed that Nigeria’s bid for the prestigious sporting event would provide an opportunity to showcase the nation’s development, elevate its global standing, and strengthen its sports culture. However, a formal bid can only proceed if the federal government grants its support to the initiative.

Backing the initiative Dikko declared full alignment with the NOC, adding that the NSC is focused on hosting major continental and global championships as part of a broader reset, refocus, and relaunch strategy for Nigerian sport.

“We are on the same page with the Nigeria Olympic Committee,” Dikko said.

“Our recent hosting of the Africa Women’s Club Volleyball Championship in Abuja is proof that it is no longer business as usual. We are determined to keep our sports facilities busy and improve our international hosting record.”

He revealed that the facilities built for the upcoming National Sports Festival in Abeokuta would also serve for the African Junior Athletics Championship, which Nigeria will host shortly after the festival.

“Our goal is to use sport as a driver of economic development, a tool for national cohesion, and a medium for promoting Nigeria’s cultural identity,” Dikko added.

Nigeria’s last major multi-sport event was the African Games in 2003, which were hosted in Abuja. The country used this platform to demonstrate its capacity to host large-scale international events. This experience, according to NOC, would form a solid foundation for Nigeria’s potential bid for the 2030 Games, exhibiting the country’s ability to manage logistics, hospitality, and infrastructure on such a significant scale.

The next Commonwealth Games will be hosted in Glasgow, Scotland, from March 17 to 29, 2026. Africa is also set to host the Youth Olympic Games for the first time in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31 to November 13, 2026.