NSC Applauds Tinubu for Signing National Anti-doping Bill into Law 

Olawale Ajimotokanin Abuja 

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ratifying the Anti-doping bill into law.

NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko said the  move has reinforced President Tinubu’s intentional and deliberate resolve to ensure that the nation aligns with global anti-doping standards and overall sports development.

In a statement yesterday signed by the Director (Information and PR), NSC, Mrs Kehinde Ajayi, Dikko expressed gratitude to the President for mounting pressure for the bill to be concluded and brought to his table for assent.

“All our accomplishments within such a short time are down to the President’s support and encouragement. This is another clear manifestation of the presidential backing we are enjoying,” Dikko said.

He also thanked the Attorney-General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice, Chairman Senate Committee on Sports, Chairman House Committee on Sports, Clerk of the National Assembly and other administrative staff, and the WADA Africa CEO for the collaboration and support to get the National Anti-Doping Organization (NADO) Bill passed after close to two decades of back and forth before it was duly assented by the President.

The Act domesticates the International Convention Against Doping in Sport and establishes an independent body charged with the responsibility for the implementation of the World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards subscribed to by Nigeria. 

Dikko also expressed delight that the Act also establishes the Nigeria Anti-doping Centre.

He said with this development, Nigeria will become an anti-doping hub on the continent and the world as a whole as envisioned in the RHINSE framework. 

He added that the development aligns with Mr. President’s gracious approval in the 2025 Appropriations Act  for the construction and equipping of a world class Anti-doping lab in Nigeria. 

“There is only one of such laboratories in Africa and every country is expected to do at least 1,500 tests every year. Our samples are presently taken abroad just like other African countries but once the new lab comes on stream in a couple of years this would be a thing of the past and, in addition, this will be a huge revenue generator for the country. We can’t thank the President enough for this”, he added. 

The Act is a marker to Nigeria’s determination to ensure fairness and integrity in global sports as it domesticates the UNESCO International Convention Against Doping in Sports. 

It will also enable NADO to coordinate all anti-doping strategies in compliance with the provisions of the World Anti-Doping Code (WADC).

The Act will support the establishment and adequate funding of an accredited anti-doping control laboratory in the country and thus be a source of revenue and contribute to the sports economy.