Manny Ita –
In a major bid to revitalize Nigeria’s crumbling sports infrastructure and human capital, the National Assembly has moved to increase the 2026 budget proposal for the National Institute of Sports (NIS) from an initial ₦2.8 billion to ₦60 billion. The development, which emerged during recent budget defense sessions in Abuja, marks one of the most significant fiscal interventions in the institute’s 52-year history.
Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Hon. Kabiru Ahmadu, confirmed the upward review, stating that the decision followed extensive consultations with the Budget Office of the Federation and the institute’s management. Ahmadu noted that the massive funding gap had historically hindered the NIS from fulfilling its mandate as the nation’s premier training and research hub. “The committee, working with the management of the institute, decided to increase the budget estimate after due consultation. Adequate funding is essential to consolidate the gains recorded,” Ahmadu stated.
Echoing this sentiment in the upper chamber, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Abdul Ningi, threw his weight behind the ₦60 billion proposal. Ningi emphasized that the growth of Nigerian sports is inextricably linked to the effectiveness of the NIS. “There is no way Nigerian sports can move forward without the NIS performing its statutory role. We are committed to ensuring the institute has the resources to drive excellence,” Ningi remarked. He further pledged to move a motion for the urgent resuscitation of the National Sports Commission (NSC) board to provide necessary oversight.
Presenting the institute’s roadmap, the Director-General of the NIS, Philip Shaibu, lamented that the agency had been operating without a clear strategic direction for decades until the recent introduction of a 10-year development plan. Shaibu attributed the country’s recent poor outings in international competitions to the neglect of foundational institutions.
“Our mandate is to train manpower for the sports ecosystem and promote sports from the grassroots, but we cannot achieve this without adequate government funding,” Shaibu told lawmakers. “We need a budget that reflects our vision and mission to improve sports in Nigeria. The NIS is the lifeline of sports development in the country.”
The proposed ₦60 billion is expected to be channeled toward upgrading the deplorable Athletes Development Centre, expanding grassroots coaching programs across the 36 states, and modernizing research facilities to bring Nigerian sports in line with global best practices.
