Nigeria to present final pitch for 2030 Commonwealth Games bid on Wednesday

Nigeria is set to pitch its final presentation to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. 

In a statement, the National Sports Commission (NSC) announced that a Nigerian delegation has arrived in London and will make the presentation on Wednesday.

The Nigerian contingent is led by Shehu Dikko, NSC president, alongside Bukola Olopade, the director-general of the commission.

Other members of the delegation include Sunday Dare, presidential spokesperson; Habu Gumel, president of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC); Hannatu Musawa, minister of arts and culture; Mary Onyali, a five-time Olympian and two-time Commonwealth Games gold medalist; and Eniola Bolaji, the current para-badminton world number one player.

The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sports competition for mostly the former territories of the UK. The Games is held every four years across the world.

In April, Nigeria declared its interest in hosting the competition. The Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) revealed plans to host the 2030 edition in Abuja.

On September 18, the Commonwealth Games Bid Evaluation team visited Nigeria and was welcomed by Femi Gbajabiamila, the chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, and other senior government officials.

The bidding process for the 2030 Commonwealth Games is expected to be concluded in November.

South Africa, Canada, and India are among the other countries that have publicly declared interest in hosting the Games.

If the bid is successful, Nigeria will be the first African country to host the Commonwealth Games.

Nigeria lost a bid to host the 2014 Commonwealth Games to Glasgow, Scotland.

The 2026 Commonwealth Games will be hosted in Glasgow from July 26 to August 2. The state of Victoria in Australia had initially been announced as the host, but the city pulled out in 2023.