The House of Representatives Committee on Sports has commended allocations made for promoting sports in the 2025 budget.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Kabiru Amadu, said the budget was the first in the history of the country to accord enough attention to sports.
Naijaonpoint reports that Amadu stated this during the budget defense of the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Shehu Dikko.
In a statement from the Commission’s spokesperson, Mrs. Ajayi Kehinde, Dikko during the budget defense, explained that it was structured on his administration’s 3Rs of Reset, Refocus and Relaunch.
According to him, some of the projects to be undertaken by the Commission include renovation of the MKO Abiola Stadium which except for the pitch resurfacing in 2021, had never undergone any repairs since completion in 2003.
He added that the completion of the three-star 200-room athletes hotel would increase income generation for the country.
Also, included was a high-performance center for Olympics and Commonwealth Games preparations, grassroots sports development and an Anti-doping Laboratory.
Speaking, Amadu commended President Bola Tinubu for giving attention to the sports industry.
He lauded the planned anti-doping laboratory which he said would help in sports regulation.
His words: “The allocation to sports is unprecedented. Sports had never gotten this type of attention in the budget. We must congratulate and applaud President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his vision, support and clear interest to get the sport sector going and be a major driver of Nigerian economy as we see happening across the globe.
“I must also commend you Mr. Chairman of the NSC for the efforts, commitment and professionalism you put in to get this increment to sports and the work you have been doing so far in delivering your mandate.
“This is the first time we are having such in Nigeria. There are many firsts in this budget. For instance, this is the first time we are having funds allocated for the Sports Federations which are the engine room of the sports developers and likewise preparations for Olympics, Commonwealth Games, grassroots and talent identification, schools sports as well as key infrastructure projects to provide the foundation to advance sports to the level we all desired.”