Nigeria, on Thursday, hosted the Commonwealth Sport Bid Evaluation Committee, led by Darren Hall, Director of Games and Assurance at Commonwealth Sports in Abuja, a move seen signalling a significant step towards hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, formally received the delegation at the Presidential Villa.‎
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to hosting an inclusive, diverse, and world-class 2030 Commonwealth Games on African soil.‎
The President, who was represented by Femi Gbajabiamila, his Chief of Staff, emphasised that the Commonwealth champions unity and diversity, and Africa deserves its moment after nearly a century.‎
The Chief of Staff, along with a strong Federal Government’s team of Ministers and very senior government officials, held strategic talks with the delegation led by the Director of Games and Assurance at Commonwealth Sport and a member of the 2030 Evaluation Commission, Darren Hall.
‎Africa has never hosted the Games since their inception in 1930. Nigeria made an unsuccessful bid to host the 2014 Games. The city of Durban in South Africa won the bid to host the 2022 Games, but could not do so due to financial difficulties. Birmingham in the UK took over and hosted the Games. Thus, Nigeria’s bid to host the 2030 Games would be historic.
‎In his welcome remarks, Gbajabiamila called on the visitors to savour Nigeria’s renowned hospitality.
President Tinubu stressed that his administration has set some bold reforms to reposition sports, having realised its role as a strategic driver of national development. He added that he scrapped the Ministry of Sports and replaced it with the National Sports Commission in the bid to drive sports development.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, made a strong case for Nigeria over India, stressing that Africa has 22 Commonwealth nations, and Nigeria, as the continent’s giant, deserves the honour.‎
‎President of Commonwealth Sport Nigeria, Habu Gumel, said the country is ready to host an environmentally sustainable Games.‎ Chairman of the Bid Committee, Mainasara Illo, presented Nigeria’s proposal, highlighting key plans and innovations.‎
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris, Minister of Aviation, Festus Kayamo, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Langiwa and‎ Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Gaidam, attended the meeting and made statements in support of the bid.
Nigeria and India are the two official bidders for the 2030 Games, with Abuja and Ahmedabad, in Gujarat, as their proposed host cities.‎ ‎After a thorough evaluation of both bids, the Commonwealth Games General Assembly will decide the host city in November 2025.
