Nigeria has intensified its campaign to bring the Commonwealth Games to Africa, with the National Sports Commission making a fresh push for the country to host the 2034 edition of the multi-sport event.
After narrowly missing out on the rights to stage the 2030 Games, which were eventually awarded to India, Nigerian sports authorities have shifted their attention to 2034, hoping to make history by delivering the first-ever Commonwealth Games on African soil.
During the 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting held in Glasgow, NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko urged member nations to back Africa as the preferred destination for the 2034 Games. His presentation received positive attention and strengthened the continent’s case for hosting the competition.
Following the ministerial gathering, Nigeria’s delegation held a separate strategic session with officials of the Commonwealth Games Federation to discuss the procedures, timelines and conditions required for selecting the next host nation.
In a statement released on Sunday, the NSC said the discussions marked significant progress toward Africa’s dream of staging the Games.
According to the commission, the ministers’ support for Africa has now progressed into formal engagements with the Commonwealth Games Federation, with Nigeria playing a central role in shaping the continent’s hosting bid.
The commission added that the talks focused on the roadmap for awarding the 2034 hosting rights and described the development as an important milestone in turning the ministers’ resolution into a practical process.
Nigeria’s confidence has also been boosted by Team Nigeria’s impressive outing at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The country fielded 72 athletes across 10 sports and finished seventh overall after securing 24 medals—10 gold, seven silver and seven bronze—making it the highest-ranked African nation at the Games.
