A growing number of sports experts and stakeholders in Nigeria are demanding a thorough forensic investigation into the country’s disappointing performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
For the eighth time in its Olympic history, Team Nigeria returned home without securing any medals, mirroring past underwhelming performances at the Olympics, including those in Helsinki, Melbourne, Rome, Mexico, Moscow, Seoul, and London.
The lack of medals has led to widespread calls for an investigation into every aspect of the preparation and execution of Nigeria’s participation in the Games.
In Abuja, several sports enthusiasts voiced their concerns, emphasizing the need for a detailed probe to uncover the reasons behind the failure.
Donatus Agu-Ejidike, Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports, has urged the National Assembly and relevant authorities to initiate a forensic review. Agu-Ejidike believes this would help identify systemic issues and prevent future failures.
He pointed out the troubling administrative errors, such as the exclusion of top athletes like Favour Ofili, and noted the loss of Nigerian athletes who switched their allegiance to other countries due to poor management.
Agu-Ejidike expressed regret over athletes like Annette Echikunwoke and Yemisi Ogunleye, who, due to administrative failures, ended up representing and winning medals for other nations.
He criticized the sports administration for neglecting talent and failing to use the substantial funds allocated—over ₦12 billion—for the Games effectively.
Ahmed Gara-Gombe, Chairman of the Gombe State Athletics Association, has called for President Bola Tinubu to consider dismissing the Sports Minister and other top officials.
Gara-Gombe argued that the exclusion of athletes and the overall poor performance reflect serious mismanagement and corruption in the sports sector. He suggested that strong measures be taken against those responsible to prevent similar issues in the future.
Godwin Bamigboye of the Association of Football Administrators in Nigeria highlighted the chronic underfunding and mismanagement of sports federations. He criticized the politicization of sports appointments, arguing that capable administrators are needed to improve Nigeria’s performance in future events.
Isaiah Benjamin, President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), also pointed to administrative incompetence as a major factor behind the failure.
He criticized the sports authorities for making unrealistic promises and failing to prepare athletes adequately, despite the significant financial resources provided by the government.
