President Bola Tinubu has issued a strict directive to end the recurring embarrassment of unpaid allowances for Nigerian athletes, ordering the immediate release of sports funds starting from the 2026 fiscal year.
In a statement released on Friday, the President mandated the Ministries of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, and the Budget Office of the Federation to ensure “adequate provisions” are made for Nigeria’s participation in international tournaments and the development of sporting facilities.
Ending the Era of Protests: Super Eagles Incident
The directive follows a series of protests by Nigerian sports teams over unpaid dues. Most recently, the Super Eagles refused to travel for their quarter-final game at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to unpaid allowances—a delay the federal government attributed to an “administrative bottleneck.”
President Tinubu declared that this status quo “must change,” noting that the “cycle undermined performance and placed our athletes at a disadvantage.”
“Certainty, Not Excuses”
To prevent future occurrences, the President ordered that once the budget is passed, funds must be disbursed without bureaucratic delay.
“I have therefore approved and directed the relevant ministries of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning and the Budget Office of the Federation for the resetting of sports funding to ensure that henceforth as from the 2026 fiscal year adequate provisions for sporting Infrastructure development, maintenance, sporting activities, programs, events and participation in international competitions are made annually in the national budget, and that all Funds so appropriated are released immediately once the budget is passed and assented to,” the statement read.
“Nigerian athletes deserve certainty, not excuses.”
Breaking the Cycle of Bureaucracy
Tinubu acknowledged that the previous funding model was flawed and damaging to the nation’s sporting image.
“For too long, sports funding was slowed by bureaucracy, fragmented across institutions, and when funds are released, they come too late to support proper preparation and even participation. Likewise, no meaningful investment is made towards sports infrastructure development and maintenance that meets international benchmarks. That cycle undermined performance and placed our athletes at a disadvantage. This must change.”
Celebrating Success: 373 Medals in 2025
Despite the challenges, the President praised the resilience of Nigerian athletes, noting that the country won a total of 373 medals at international competitions in 2025.
He promised a new era where “the future of Nigerian sports will be planned, properly funded, and competitive.”
“Nigerian athletes will henceforth be supported early, be prepared thoroughly, and celebrated proudly,” Tinubu added.
2026 Budget Allocation
This directive aligns with the President’s recent fiscal proposals. In December, Tinubu presented a N58.18 trillion 2026 appropriation bill to the National Assembly. Within this budget, over N210 billion has been allocated specifically to the National Sports Commission (NSC) to revitalize the sector.
