Nigeria Eyes 2030 Commonwealth Games with Abuja Bid, Says NOC

Nigeria has officially taken a bold step toward hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games, as the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC) confirmed it met the March 28, 2025 deadline to submit an expression of interest.

The proposed host city? Abuja — the nation’s capital and the site of Nigeria’s last major multi-sport event, the 2003 African Games.

While this marks an exciting development, it’s just the first phase of the journey. A formal bid can only proceed once it receives full backing from the federal government. Still, the NOC is optimistic and believes Nigeria’s ambitions are not only credible but timely.

In a statement issued by NOC spokesman Tony Nezianya, the committee emphasized that hosting the Commonwealth Games would offer Nigeria a powerful platform to showcase its growth, deepen global ties, and ignite its sports culture once again.

“This bid presents a unique opportunity to highlight Nigeria’s development, improve its international profile, and strengthen national pride through sports,” the statement read.

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“Our successful experience with the 2003 African Games provides a strong foundation for delivering a world-class event. We’ve done it before, and we can do it again—bigger and better.”

The idea of hosting the Commonwealth Games isn’t new to Nigeria. The country previously mounted a bid for the 2014 edition, but ultimately lost to Glasgow. Now, more than a decade later, there’s a renewed sense of purpose and a stronger narrative: one of growth, resilience, and national potential.

Should Abuja be selected, it would mark a historic moment—not only for Nigeria but for the Commonwealth Games itself, as it would bring the event back to West Africa for the very first time.

Interestingly, the next edition of the Commonwealth Games in 2026 will also return to Glasgow, Scotland, following the unexpected withdrawal of Victoria, Australia, which cited skyrocketing costs as the reason for pulling out.

For now, all eyes are on Abuja as Nigeria lays the groundwork for what could be a transformative opportunity—not just in terms of sports, but in how the world sees and engages with Africa’s most populous nation.