Chairman of the Nationwide Sports activities Fee, Mallam Shehu Dikko, has confirmed {that a} formal investigation is already underway following the Athletics Integrity Unit’s (AIU) question to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) over conflicting beginning dates submitted for some athletes on the 2025 African U18 & U20 Championships held in Abeokuta.
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The problem has generated widespread public concern, prompting the NSC to maneuver swiftly. Dikko revealed that the Fee is working carefully with the AFN to uncover the reality behind the suspected circumstances of age manipulation, a recurring downside in Nigerian youth sports activities.
“Investigations are ongoing. We’re working hand in hand with the AFN to determine the details and take acceptable motion,” Dikko confirmed.
He emphasised that the matter is being handled with absolute seriousness, noting that age integrity was one of the vital important matters mentioned in the course of the just lately concluded Nationwide Council of Sports activities assembly in Calabar.
“Age dishonest is a serious subject. It was addressed totally in Calabar, as a result of it undermines the credibility of our athletes and the nation as an entire,” he mentioned.
Dikko reiterated that the NSC is dedicated to cleansing up Nigerian sports activities, stressing that any athlete, coach, or official discovered responsible will face strict sanctions beneath the Fee’s new anti-age-falsification framework.
“Anybody discovered responsible will likely be punished. We need to ship a powerful message — this behaviour will now not be tolerated in Nigerian sports activities,” he declared.
The Chairman highlighted the long-term harm brought on by age manipulation, together with unfair competitors, athlete burnout, and reputational hurt on the worldwide stage.
“We should shield the integrity of our athletes. Age fraud destroys careers, destroys belief, and damages our standing globally,” Dikko added.
He assured Nigerians that the investigation will likely be thorough, clear, and adopted by decisive penalties.
“This probe isn’t a witch hunt — it’s about making certain equity, restoring confidence, and safeguarding the way forward for Nigerian athletics,” he concluded.
