Ado Salisu
The Athletics and Other Sports Development Initiative (AOSDI), a non-governmental organisation advocating transparency and accountability in sports governance, has faulted the conduct of the recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), describing it as a failure and a national embarrassment.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the NGO, Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, made this known in a press statement issued in Abuja, where he accused the NOC leadership under Engineer Habu Gumel of incompetence, lack of transparency, and poor governance.
According to Gara-Gombe, it is unacceptable that a country like Nigeria could fail to properly organise the AGM of a premier sports institution such as the NOC.
> “The leadership of the NOC has failed under Engineer Habu Gumel, which is regrettable. It is difficult to understand what the NOC has done in the past or what it is currently doing. The organisation has fallen short in transparency, accountability, and good governance,” he said.
Gara-Gombe expressed disappointment over the decision to schedule the AGM on December 29, 2025, during the Christmas and end-of-year festivities, describing the move as insensitive and poorly planned.
> “Imagine the Nigeria Olympic Committee fixing an AGM during the Christmas celebrations. How could the NOC, with such audacity, schedule an AGM at this time? It is utterly wrong and despicable,” he stated.
He noted that globally, organisations and corporate bodies usually suspend major activities between December 15 and January 15 to allow individuals attend to religious, family, and personal commitments, stressing that AGMs are normally captured in organisational calendars well in advance.
According to the NGO, the NOC had ample time—up to eleven months—to properly plan and conduct the AGM without disrupting stakeholders’ faith obligations.
Gara-Gombe further revealed that findings by the organisation showed that between 10 and 15 congress members who were expected to participate virtually were unable to do so, resulting in poor attendance and a depleted quorum.
> “Such a significant absence would naturally affect the quality of deliberations. Is this how the late Major-General Henry Adefope and Alhaji Raheem Adejumo administered the NOC in their time?” he queried.
He alleged that the NOC, like the National Sports Commission (NSC), is currently being run by cliques, while accusing the present leadership of institutionalising age-cheating scandals and other vices through questionable oversight.
> “They want to take over the NOC, control it, and continue doing things their own way. We will continue to speak out,” he vowed.
Gara-Gombe stressed that decisions taken at an AGM must be collective to be legitimate, warning that deliberate disenfranchisement of stakeholders undermines the credibility of such meetings.
He lamented what he described as a recurring culture in Nigerian sports associations where attendance at meetings is driven mainly by personal benefits such as allowances, hotel accommodation, and meal tickets, rather than genuine interest in policy discussions and development.
> “No serious chairman or stakeholder with a legitimate source of income would travel to Abuja just to collect allowances. The focus should be on policies and decisions that will grow sports in Nigeria,” he said.
The NGO boss disclosed that he is yet to receive the communiqué from the NOC AGM and would respond appropriately once it is made available.
He also called for young, energetic, and competent individuals to replace what he described as ineffective leadership at the NOC, questioning the tangible benefits the current administration has brought to Nigerian sports.
Gara-Gombe further criticised the NOC for failing to present its financial report at its last congress, despite receiving funds from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
> “We are quick to criticise the Nigerian Football Federation, yet we ignore corruption within the NOC and other sports federations. The NOC should be thoroughly investigated,” he said.
He added that Nigeria’s poor outings at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games reflect the committee’s inability to take decisive actions, alleging that the NOC has surrendered much of its authority to the National Sports Commission, thereby weakening its relevance.
Gara-Gombe concluded by warning that his organisation would also scrutinise other sports federations, including the Nigerian Basketball Federation, to ensure expired tenures are respected.
> “We will address these anomalies, regardless of who is involved,” he stressed.