NSC, EFCC Join Forces To Champion Integrity In Nigeria’s Sports

In a landmark move to instil transparency and ethical conduct within the Nigeria’s sports sector, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has officially partnered with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The collaboration was sealed during a strategic meeting on Friday, May 29, between NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and EFCC Chairman Mr. Ola Olukoyede at the EFCC headquarters, Abuja

Mallam Dikko, in a statement released on Saturday, Dr (Mrs) Kehinde Ajayi, director of press and public relations, NSC, highlighted the transformative vision behind the establishment of the NSC in October 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

This decision, he explained, aimed to overhaul the sports ecosystem, harness the vast potential of the sports economy, and position it as a key driver of national economic growth.

“We had been too focused on participation in international competitions spending so much funding to the detriment of the domestic sports ecosystem and winning little,” Dikko stated, emphasizing the need for a sector-wide reset.

The NSC Chairman detailed the “Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria Sports Economy (RHINSE)” framework, built on three pillars: reset, refocus, and relaunch. This strategy treats sports as a national asset, projected to contribute at least 3% of the nation’s GDP annually, create millions of jobs, and attract significant investment.

To bolster integrity, Dikko pointed to President Tinubu’s swift assent to the Nigeria Antidoping Bill, which had been pending for over two decades. This led to the establishment of the National Antidoping Center, ensuring Nigeria’s compliance with global benchmarks. Additionally, the NSC has formed an Independent Sports Integrity Board to proactively prevent unethical practices. “We have therefore come to collaborate with the EFCC to this effect among others,” he added.

Mr. Olukoyede lauded the NSC’s visible progress, noting, “I have seen changes. You have been changing the face of sports in Nigeria very drastically. Corporate bodies are now willing to come around to support and sponsor sporting activities in the country.” He affirmed the EFCC’s commitment to the partnership, pledging to establish a dedicated desk to liaise with the NSC.

The EFCC Chairman also emphasized the importance of prevention, referencing past investigations into sports administration. He announced that the EFCC’s new Fraud Risk Assessment and Control (FRAC) department would collaborate with the NSC to develop fraud risk compliance templates, focusing on areas like procurement, contract awards, and fund management, particularly for the new National Anti-doping Agency.

Mallam Dikko also appealed for continued support for the EFCC Football Club, promising strategic assistance to help it reclaim its former glory.