National Council on Sports Approves Reduction in Events at National Sports Festival
The National Council on Sports has approved a major change to the structure of the National Sports Festival, giving the green light to reduce the number of sports featured at the biennial event.
The decision was reached at the Council’s meeting held on Friday, November 28, 2025, at the Kashim Shettima Hall, State Library Complex, Calabar, Cross River State.
The meeting, which deliberated on key issues of sports development in Nigeria, directed the National Sports Commission to work with National Sports Federations and the States Directors of Sports Forum to implement the reduction.
This move comes despite the controversy that trailed the last edition of the Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where only one athlete per state was allowed to compete in most middle and long distance races, including the marathon, an event traditionally defined by large fields of runners.
By cutting down the number of sports, the Council aims to streamline the Festival, though the decision is expected to spark debate among stakeholders who view the event as a platform for mass participation and talent discovery.
