By Dianabasi Effiong
The Commonwealth Games, Nigeria, has met the deadline for expression of interest to bid for the Commonwealth Games in 2030 in Abuja.
This was made known on Monday by Tony Nezianya, the Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC).
According to Nezianya, the NOC emerged from its executive committee meeting on April 3 in Abuja to confirm that it met the March 28 deadline for expression of interest for a bid process.
Nigeria can only begin a formal bid if the Federal Government gives backing to the project, noting that Nigeria’s bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Abuja would present a unique opportunity to showcase its development, enhance its global standing, and invigorate its sports culture.
Nigeria last hosted a major multi-sport event – the African Games – in 2003 (COJA 2003) hosted in Anuja and the country used the platform to demonstrate its capability and commitment to organising large-scale international events.
That experience will provide a solid foundation for Nigeria to host again, showcasing its ability to manage the logistics, hospitality, and infrastructure development required by such events as it would also provide a compelling narrative for the nation’s progress and readiness.
A bid process would enhance an investment in Sports Infrastructure as bidding for the Games can catalyse investments in sports infrastructure and facilities across the country, particularly in Abuja, which can revitalise the local sports-economy and improve national sports facilities for future generations.
Hosting the Games, he said, would “initiate the construction and upgrading of sports venues, transportation systems, and accommodations, creating lasting benefits for the sports community and the general population.
“This can significantly boost tourism by attracting visitors from around the world. This influx would undoubtedly support local businesses, create jobs, and boost the hospitality sector”.
He added that, “the preparation and execution phases of the Games will generate numerous jobs, from event management to construction, fostering local enterprise, and skills development.
“It would inspire a new generation of athletes by providing them with the motivation and support to pursue excellence in sports. It positions Nigeria as a country that values athletic achievement and fosters talent, serve as a compelling force for National unity by fostering peace and facilitating Nigeria’s cultural diversity”.
Meanwhile, Nezianya said, other significant events on the schedule include the Olympic Committees of African (ANOCA) School Sports Games in Algeria, to be staged from July 5 to July 13, 2025.
The Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia are also scheduled to run from November 7 to November 31, 2025.
Conversely, Angola will host the ANOCA Youth Games in Luanda between December 5 and December December 20, 2025 while the next Commonwealth will be hosted in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2026. This will run from March 17 to March 29, 2026.
Indeed, the Scots were the eventual hosts of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, which could have served as the centennial Games of the amalgamation of Nigeria’s southern and northern protectorates but Nigeria had lost the bid to host the Games in Colombo, Sri Lanka, he said.
Africa has been awarded the Youth Olympic Games for the first time and Dakar, Senegal won the right to host the Games, from October 31 to November 13, 2026.
However, Milano Cortina won the bid to host the Winter Olympic Games from February 6 to February 22, 2027 while Equatorial Guinea was named to host the African Beach Games in 2027.Egypt will host the 14th African Games, Egypt, from January 20 to February 7, 2027, he added.
The quadrennial would be rounded up with the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 in the USA, from July 14 to July 30, 2028, he said adding that Winter Olympics will take place in the US in 2028 at a yet-to-be-determined city.
