The current state of the Nigerian government’s support to sports

Unquestionably, Nigeria's sports sector is in an appalling condition; the main reason for this is because the government hasn't done much to ensure and encourage the development of sport in Nigeria through the execution of policies. Nigeria's sports industry is the subject of very few government initiatives, such as the 1989 National Sports Policy, which was created during the administration of General Ibrahim Babangida. The main purpose of succeeding administrations and governments is to concentrate their efforts on issues like health, education, and security. Identifying and nurturing young talent, encouraging business sector partnership, and using sports to promote national identity and integration were some of the goals of the 1989 program.

Another policy initiative pertaining to Nigeria's sports industry was launched in 2009. Although the 2009 National Sport Policy and the 1989 National Sport Policy appear to have similar goals, the former adopted a more comprehensive and inclusive strategy to establishing sports as a vital component of the economy, national development, and grassroots involvement. It's important to acknowledge that admirable efforts have been made to improve sports in Nigeria, even though previous administrations may have focused more on and given priority to important areas like the economy, security, education, health, and agriculture. 

In the meantime, Nigeria has made less development in sports over the past 10 years, as noted by Tunde Okunlola in his essay "Decay In Nigeria Sports Sector.” The current struggles of the Super Eagles squad and the most appalling performances of the various athletes at Paris in 2024 are clear indicators of the decline in Nigerian sports. The underwhelming performance of Nigerian athletes in various competitions and the demise of the country's sports industry can be ascribed to a number of factors, including the athletes' lack of drive, the government's lack of interest in the field, and the industry's scant attention, all of which have contributed to the collapse of the Nigerian sport industry.

The apparent stoicism and indifference of state actors and their appointees in the sector is more responsible for the industry's prolonged degeneration than any other factor that may have been widely believed to be the primary cause of the difficulties harming Nigeria's sports sector. It seems that the current and immediate administrations, especially at the federal level, have been so consumed by the overwhelming issues of unemployment, inflation, food insecurity, and the collapsing economy that delegated legislation in the sports sector is not being sufficiently examined for effective and efficient use. Only when there are allegations of misconduct in the sector or when the country is set to host a major competition does the government take meaningful action. 

In addition to contributing to the deterioration of sports in Nigeria, government passivism in this area has inevitably resulted in administrative inefficiencies, corruption, and a general lack of progress in the sport sector. For example, the administrative incompetence of the Nigerian Olympic Committee and the Athletes Federation of Nigeria was a major factor in Favour Ofili's exclusion from the 100-meter race at the most recent Olympics in Paris. Despite billions of naira being allocated especially for Nigeria's participation in the competition, this was also evident in the competitors' unforgivably poor overall performance at the Paris Games.

The selection process, particularly for the football team, has been tainted by long-term corruption, either through bribery or having a strong connection with those in power before you could be given the opportunity to represent the green, white, green colors, especially in international competitions. Enlistment or the opportunity to represent Nigeria is now based more on who knows who and how much you're willing to pay to be offered a position than on talent and skills due to the deeply ingrained corrupt restructuring of the country's sports industry. For instance, it was alleged that former Super Eagles forward Chinedu Obasi was denied a spot on the team because he refused to pay a fee. Additionally, there have been allegations of corruption against the sport industry's governing body, including the alleged disappearance of US$8.4 million paid by FIFA to Nigeria for participating in the 2014 World Cup and through to fictitious international friendly matches.

The problem of inadequate, unusable, and abandoned sporting facilities is another threat to Nigerian sports, in addition to the previously mentioned one. The Nigerian football league has been particularly impacted by this, as local players are accustomed to playing on grassy, uneven fields. Mikel Obi, the former captain of the Super Eagles, once disclosed that he gave over 30,000 pounds to the Nigerian team during the 2016 Olympics, saying, "Sometimes there was no food, sometimes there was no pitch to train on, there was no bus to go to the training ground. So all of this was what the coach and I had to sort out with personal money." This is an obvious example of the government's lack of will to financially support sport development and inspire passionate and promising talents.

In actuality, the federal government of Nigeria must take action to address the long-standing, multiple issues harming the country's sports sector. It must not overlook the sports sector in its endeavors to tackle the numerous and varied issues confronting a country as big and complicated as Nigeria. It's time for Nigeria to catch up to other nations in terms of her sporting growth, both in terms of performance and in terms of making sure the industry is given priority and that sufficient funds are allocated to its reform and advancement. For example, the Swedish government allocates more than $180 billion a year for sports, while the French government budgets €40 billion a year through public funding and private sector collaboration. In 2021, Israel spent a staggering 70.61 billion Israeli shekels (roughly $19.14 billion USD) on culture, entertainment, and sports, and Saudi Arabia has made significant investments in its sport development and in luring some of Europe's top players to its expanding league.

To sum up, Nigeria's government's apparent carelessness and slack attitude will only worsen the system's long-term decay and its deeply rooted corruption. It is unacceptable for the government to keep quiet while the sports industry completely collapses. By working with relevant agencies, all hands must be on deck to solve the many problems that are already seriously affecting the system. A comprehensive leadership approach is needed to address the country's complex problems, and the sports industry must be included among the many sectors that require immediate attention through effective policy implementations.