Abuja, Jan. 5, 2026 – The Athletics and Other Sports Development Initiative, an NGO registered by law to promote good governance, transparency, and accountability in the sports industry without borders, has faulted the recent Nigeria Olympic Committee Annual General Meeting, describing it as a failure that undermines governance in Nigerian sports.
In a statement in Abuja, the NGO’s chairman, Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, said it was disgraceful that a premier sports body could not properly organise its AGM.
Gombe said the NOC leadership under Engineer Habu Gumel has failed, citing poor transparency, weak accountability, and absence of clear direction in managing the committee.
He criticised the decision to hold the AGM on December 29, 2025, saying it conflicted with Christmas celebrations and disregarded religious and family obligations.
According to him, global best practice allows institutions to suspend major activities between mid-December and mid-January for rest and private engagements.
Gombe noted that AGMs are usually scheduled early in the year, stressing that the NOC had enough time to plan a more appropriate date.
He revealed that 10 to 15 congress members could not join the meeting virtually, affecting quorum and weakening the quality of deliberations.
Gombe questioned whether past NOC leaders, including Maj.-Gen. Henry Adefope and Alhaji Raheem Adejumo, ran the committee in such a manner.
He alleged that the NOC is now controlled by cliques, similar to practices within the National Sports Commission.
The NGO blamed the current leadership for institutionalising age-cheating scandals and other vices through weak and questionable oversight.
Gombe stressed that decisions from an AGM must be collective, warning that deliberate disenfranchisement renders such outcomes ineffective.
He lamented that many sports meetings are driven by allowances rather than genuine interest in policy, development, or accountability.
According to him, serious sports administrators with legitimate income focus on reforms, not transport fares, hotel bookings, or sitting allowances.
Gombe said he was yet to receive the AGM communique and would respond formally once it is made available.
He called for younger, energetic professionals to replace ineffective leaders, questioning the tangible benefits of the NOC under the current leadership.
The NGO also criticised the NOC for failing to present financial reports despite receiving funding allocations from the International Olympic Committee.
Gombe said corruption within the NOC and sports federations deserves more scrutiny than currently given to football administration alone.
He argued that Nigeria’s poor Olympic and Commonwealth Games performances reflect the NOC’s inability to take decisive and effective actions.
Gombe further alleged that the NOC has surrendered its responsibilities to the National Sports Commission, weakening its authority.
He vowed to scrutinise other federations, including basketball, insisting that officials with expired tenures must step aside for new leadership.
