President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed Nigeria’s determination to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, positioning the nation to become the first on African soil to stage the nearly century-old event, during a high-level meeting with the Commonwealth Sport Bid Evaluation Committee at the Presidential Villa.

Represented by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, Tinubu extended a warm welcome to the delegation led by Darren Hall, Commonwealth Director of Games and Assurance, underscoring Nigeria’s full backing through a presidential letter of guarantee. “We’re ready, willing, able, and we actually want this,” Gbajabiamila said, noting the Games’ inception in 1930 has bypassed Africa despite 22 member nations on the continent. He highlighted the administration’s reforms, including scrapping the Ministry of Sports for a National Sports Commission to elevate athletics as a driver of youth empowerment and economic growth.

National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko pitched Nigeria over rival bidder India, emphasizing Africa’s overdue turn and the bid’s focus on inclusivity and legacy. 

Attending ministers—Information and National Orientation’s Muhammed Idris, Aviation’s Festus Keyamo, Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy’s Hannatu Musa Musawa, Housing and Urban Development’s Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, and Police Affairs’ Ibrahim Gaidam—voiced unified support, detailing commitments to infrastructure, security, aviation, cultural integration, housing, and law enforcement for a seamless spectacle.

The four-day visit includes stakeholder meetings and facility inspections in Abuja, Nigeria’s proposed host city, rivaling India’s Ahmedabad. The Commonwealth Games General Assembly will select the host in November 2025 after evaluations, with Nigeria’s vision centering on innovation, accessibility, and a lasting impact for African youth.