Julius OkorieNigeria has submitted a bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, amid worry in some quarters over the state of the nation’s economy.
The Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) announced Tuesday that Nigeria met the March 28, 2025, deadline to express interest in bidding for the Games.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHistorically, Nigeria had faced challenges in hosting international competitions, having lost the opportunity to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. However, the NOC remains optimistic about the potential of their new bid.
In a statement from NOC spokesman, Tony Nezianya, he emphasized that Nigeria’s proposal to host the 2030 Games in the capital city of Abuja offers a unique chance to not only highlight the country’s developmental strides but also enhance its standing on the global stage. He asserted that hosting the Games would invigorate the nation’s sports culture and provide a platform for showcasing Nigeria’s rich heritage and capabilities.
Notably, Nigeria last hosted a major multi-sport event in 2003, the African Games, held in Abuja. This experience, according to the NOC, offers a solid foundation for managing the complexities associated with hosting large-scale events, including logistics, hospitality, and necessary infrastructure development.
The NOC believes that the ability to execute a successful event would tell a compelling story of Nigeria’s growth and readiness to take on international sports responsibilities.
READ ALSO:Commonwealth Games: Is It Still Relevant Today?
The next Commonwealth Games will take place in Glasgow, Scotland, from March 17 to March 29, 2026. Initially, the Australian state of Victoria was set to host these Games; however, they withdrew their bid due to escalating costs.
Some critics say dreaming of hosting the Commonwealth Games in the next five years is misplaced priority and planned waste of funds.
Optimists however say the fact that the nation’s economy is currently begging for survival does not mean it will remain like that in 2030, even as they agreed that intentional efforts need to be made to position the economy if Games of such magnitude is to be hosted by Nigeria.
No African country has hosted the Commonwealth Games since its inception in 1930 in Hamilton, Canada.
Nigeria has attended 15 editions of the Commonwealth Games winning 271 medals made up of 82 Gold,84 Silver and 105 Bronze. Her best outing was in Birmingham in 2022 where she won 12 Gold medals. Nine 9 Silver and 14 Bronze.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
