Nigeria Moves Towards a Dedicated Sports Visa Category System
Abuja, Nigeria | 6 February 2026
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, on Friday met with the Honourable Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in Abuja for a strategic engagement aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s sports ecosystem through coordinated government action.
The high-level meeting focused on practical pathways to deepen institutional collaboration in support of national sports development, with particular emphasis on policy alignment and administrative efficiency across relevant government agencies.
A major outcome of the discussions was the proposal to establish a dedicated Sports Visa category framework. When implemented, the system will enable seamless entry and exit for athletes, technical officials, administrators, and global sports stakeholders engaging with Nigeria for competitions, training programmes, and other international sporting activities.
The proposed Sports Visa framework is expected to significantly enhance Nigeria’s readiness to host high-value international tournaments and global sports programmes. It is also designed to unlock sports-driven investments in line with the RHINSE framework, while positioning sports as a structured driver of economic growth, youth development, and national pride.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to sustained inter-ministerial collaboration to ensure that sports governance reforms are supported by efficient immigration processes that meet international best practices and advance Nigeria’s global sports ambitions.
@NatSportsComm | @MinOfInteriorNG
