Customs Chief Doles Out ₦20m Boost For Wrestlers At Gov Diri Classics

The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service and President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Adewale Adeniyi, has disbursed more than ₦20 million in athlete subsidies at the 4th Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa.

Adeniyi made the announcement during Thursday’s opening ceremony, underlining his administration’s strong commitment to athlete welfare.

He confirmed that, beyond the subsidy, medallists at the tournament will also receive additional cash rewards, further incentivising performance at the competition.

Reaffirming his athlete-first approach, Adeniyi emphasised that welfare remains central to the federation’s agenda.

“As I have always maintained, the welfare of our athletes is central to our approach as a federation. It is aimed at keeping them fully engaged and committed. Every athlete who participates in this Wrestling Classics is a winner,” he said.

Each registered athlete at the tournament will receive a ₦25,000 allowance, alongside existing feeding arrangements. Participating teams will also benefit from travel subsidies to ease their logistics to Yenagoa.

Adeniyi, who also chairs the World Customs Organisation, assured competitors that more national tournaments are on the horizon this year.

“As long as you remain disciplined, this is one of the best times to be part of the Wrestling Classics,” he added. “We are committed to building a sport that thrives in every aspect, and we plan to introduce new ideas to further develop the game.”