‘No more excuses’: Tinubu demands immediate release of sports funds

President Bola Tinubu has ordered a complete overhaul of Nigeria’s sports funding framework, insisting that athletes must no longer suffer from bureaucratic delays.

In a statement released on Friday, Tinubu directed the ministries of finance, budget and economic planning, along with the budget office, to ensure that from the 2026 fiscal year, adequate provisions are made for international tournaments, sporting activities, and infrastructure development.

Crucially, he stressed that all funds allocated must be released immediately once the national budget is passed and signed.

The move comes after years of complaints from Nigerian athletes over unpaid allowances, most recently when the Super Eagles refused to travel for their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final in 2025 due to funding issues.

Tinubu said the ‘status quo must change,’ arguing that late disbursements and fragmented funding had undermined performance and left athletes at a disadvantage.

‘For too long, sports funding was slowed by bureaucracy, fragmented across institutions, and when funds were released, they came too late to support proper preparation or participation,’ Tinubu said.

‘That cycle undermined performance and placed our athletes at a disadvantage. This must change.’

The president praised Nigeria’s athletes for their achievements in 2025, noting that they won 373 medals across international competitions.

He promised that the future of Nigerian sports would be ‘planned, properly funded, and competitive,’ with athletes supported early, prepared thoroughly, and celebrated proudly.

In December, Tinubu presented a ₦58.18 trillion 2026 appropriation bill to the national assembly, with over ₦210 billion allocated to the National Sports Commission.