Bayelsa and Kaduna states have been officially confirmed as the hosts of the 2028 and 2030 editions of the National Sports Festival.

The development was confirmed following resolutions reached at the National Council on Sports meeting held on Friday in Calabar, Cross River State.

The announcement formed part of a wide-ranging communique issued by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) Shehu Dikko at the end of the gathering on Friday, 28th of November, 2025.

The meeting, which took place at the Kashim Shettima Hall of the State Library Complex, had as its theme “Business of Sports: Creating Jobs, Wealth, and Utility under the Renewed Hope Agenda.” Delegates from across the country deliberated on key issues affecting sports development, with a strong emphasis on reforms and sustainability.

In acknowledging the significant investments by Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State and Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, the Council approved both states as successive festival hosts.

The decision aligns with the Federal Government’s broader sports development agenda and ongoing upgrades to sports infrastructure nationwide.

The Council also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to repositioning sports, particularly through the redesignation of the National Sports Commission and his support for youth and grassroots sports initiatives. It further applauded the Cross River State Government for its hospitality in hosting the event.

Among the major resolutions, the Council directed that all state delegates must provide centralised and verifiable insurance coverage for their contingents participating in national competitions.

It also approved the construction of international-standard swimming pools for the next three festival host states, starting with Enugu, which will host the 2026 Coal City Games.

In addition, the Council announced the establishment of the National Intermediate Games (NIG) for athletes aged 17 to 20, to be introduced in 2026 with Lagos State hosting the maiden edition. The new event is expected to bridge the developmental gap between the National Youth Games and the National Sports Festival.

Anti-doping reforms also featured prominently, as the Council approved the development of the Nigeria Anti-Doping Policy, noted Nigeria’s compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code, and confirmed the National Anti-Doping Centre as the country’s coordinating body for doping control. It also adopted stiff sanctions for age cheating across all national sports competitions.

The communique concluded with the Council’s approval for the expansion of future meetings to include strategic stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, reflecting the evolving economic landscape of Nigerian sports. Lagos State was also commended for accepting to host the next National Council on Sports meeting. (Blueprint)

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