By Onomiguren Agbamu
The National Sports Commission (NSC) has said there is no official announcement that Lagos State will be next to host the 2026 National Youth Games, as speculated by reports.
The NSC clarified that no such decision had been made, stressing that due process will be followed in naming the next host.
Addressing journalists in a press briefing on Friday in Asaba, the Director General of the NSC, Chief (Hon.) Bukola Olopade said the commission has created a new platform to ensure retired female athletes are duly recognized, and provisions are in place for them to serve as statutory members across all sports federations going forward.
He noted that it is untrue there were rifts and power struggles within the NSC’s internal structure, while condemning in strong terms the attempt to tarnish the image of the commission under the leadership of its chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko.
He said,” A lot of shenanigans have been going on. I have a brother and friend, an amazing man and a true leader, Mallam Shehu Dikko. There was never a time we fought over money, contracts, or positions. The ridiculousness of that story is enough for SWAN to reprimand the writer. We have also reported the matter officially to the DSS under section 19 of the Cybercrime Act,” Olopade stated.
He further described his relationship with the NSC Chairman as “rock-solid and built on sincerity,” adding that their roles are clearly defined and that there has never been any quarrel or tussle for supremacy.
” I know the chairman; he is the leader of the NSC, and I know I’m the Director General working under him. We have never had issues. For someone to wake up and write that there is infighting in the commission is not only ridiculous but shameful and wicked.”
Olopade reassured that both he and Mallam Dikko remain united in their vision of transforming the nation’s sporting landscape. According to him, their focus is on building a production-oriented system that will revolutionize sports in Nigeria.
” Shehu Dikko and I have our eyes on the board. We are innovating; we’re working hard to build a system that produces value. This is why we have even placed a bid for Nigeria to host the Commonwealth Games.”
He also stressed that the NSC views all sports federations as members of one united family, reiterating that there are no conflicts between the commission and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
“We are a family, we are all focus-driven, and we are a team.”
He concluded by revealing that the NSC, in collaboration with the NFF, is already preparing for Nigeria’s forthcoming World Cup qualifiers, reaffirming the commission’s commitment to strengthening the nation’s performance on the international stage.
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