The Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF) has commended the National Sports Commission (NSC) for approving the construction of Olympic-standard swimming pools for the next three hosts of the National Sports Festival (NSF), calling the move a landmark step for aquatics development in Nigeria.
NAqF president Dunkwu Chamberlain praised the commission, noting that the new facilities — beginning with Enugu, followed by Bayelsa and subsequent host states — represent a “milestone achievement and a clear demonstration of the Commission’s renewed commitment to inclusive sports growth and excellence.” Chamberlain framed the project as a long-overdue corrective to decades of infrastructural neglect that constrained athlete preparation and participation.
Speaking on longstanding challenges faced by aquatic sports across the country, Chamberlain emphasised that inadequate facilities had limited training environments and hampered competitive standards. He said the NSC’s decision will enhance training conditions, raise competition standards and encourage wider involvement in swimming and related disciplines.
The federation’s secretary, Taiwo Oriss, also described the initiative as catalytic for long-term development. “This is a strategic breakthrough for aquatics in Nigeria,” he said. “With full implementation, this move will not only strengthen grassroots participation, but it will also put us on a clear path to achieving an Olympic-size swimming pool in every Nigerian state before 2050. It is a bold vision, and this decision brings us several steps closer.”
Chamberlain further highlighted that the facilities will provide a solid foundation for Nigeria’s ambitions in continental and global competitions, offering improved environments for young swimmers to hone their skills. The federation reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate closely with the NSC and host states to ensure the pools meet international standards and contribute meaningfully to national sports excellence.
The praise followed outcomes from the 2025 National Council on Sports, held on Friday, 28 November, at the Kashim Shettima Hall, State Library Complex in Calabar. The council approved international-standard swimming pools for the next three NSF hosts, confirmed Bayelsa in 2028 and Kaduna in 2030 as future venues, and established the National Intermediate Games for athletes aged 17–20. It also adopted strict age-cheating sanctions, expanded council membership to include major economic and institutional stakeholders, and reinforced the importance of athlete insurance across national competitions.
NSC director-general Bukola Olopade reiterated the commission’s commitment to building a more accountable and opportunity-driven sports sector, with infrastructure developments such as the swimming pools at the forefront. The NSC said such investments are intended to professionalise Nigeria’s sporting framework and create sustainable pathways for talent development across disciplines.