Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, sports entrepreneur and chairman of the Gombe Athletics Association, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to withhold the N78 billion appropriated for the National Sports Commission (NSC), urging the commission to rely on private funding to drive Nigeria’s sports economy.
In a statement released over the weekend, Gombe criticized the NSC’s reliance on public funds, stating that sports economies globally thrive on private investments, not government budgets.
“I have seen media reports celebrating the federal government’s appropriation of N78 billion for the NSC. Sadly, the same people managing our sports are stuck in outdated practices,” he said.
Call for Accountability and Reforms
Gombe expressed concerns about potential mismanagement of the funds, referencing past instances, such as the misappropriation of N3 billion from a sponsorship deal between SuperSport and the League Management Company (LMC). He urged the government to withhold the funds until the NSC demonstrates readiness and accountability.
“Do we need to invest N78 billion in Nigerian sports? For what? The NSC leadership claims to have the ability to attract sponsors; they should use their contacts to raise funds instead of relying on taxpayers’ money,” Gombe argued.
Advocating for Structural Changes
Gombe proposed the re-establishment of the “Team Nigeria” initiative, with trustees appointed to manage sports funding independently, emphasizing a gradual withdrawal of government funding. He also lamented the poor state of sports infrastructure in Nigeria, criticizing the lack of FIFA- and CAF-standard stadiums across the country.
“From Badagry to Maiduguri, Nigeria lacks a single standard stadium that can host international football games. It’s disheartening that despite former Minister Sunday Dare sourcing $1 million from Aliko Dangote to renovate the Abuja Stadium, our facilities remain substandard,” he added.
Gombe’s statement highlights the need for structural reforms, private investment, and transparency in Nigeria’s sports administration to achieve a sustainable sports economy.
