The House of Representatives Committee on Sports on Wednesday jerked up the budget estimate of the National Institute of Sports (NIS) from N2.8 billion to about N60 billion

The committee’s chairman, Hon. Kabiru Ahmadu who disclosed this

during the budget defence session of the agency said, the decision followed due consultation with the leadership of the Budget Office of the Federation.

Ahmadu decried the poor funding of the institute, describing it as a critical pillar in national sports development.

He emphasised the need for increased budgetary allocation to enable the NIS discharge its responsibilities effectively and pledged the committee’s commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to improve its funding for optimal performance.

Director General of the Institute, Philip Shuaibu while presenting the budget appealed for increased funding, adding that the total capital estimate for 2025 was not released.

Shuaibu linked the non performance of the nation’s sport in recent times to the lack of functionality of the institute, stressing that his leadership is began the repositioning of the Athletes Development Centre which he said was an eye sore when he took over the institute.

He said said the non functionality of the institute had made it impossible to develop the nation’s athletes, leaving the room for Children born outside the country to now take over representing the country at sporting events.

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