FG Activates Anti Doping Law With New Technical Board
Dr. Nafisat Makinɗe, Abuja
The Federal Government on Thursday inaugurated the Technical Board of the Nigeria Anti Doping Centre, operationalising the National Anti Doping Act, 2025, as part of efforts to strengthen anti doping enforcement and align Nigeria’s sports governance with the World Anti Doping Code.
The development was announced in a statement signed by the Head of Information and Public Relations, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chris Ugwuegbulam, after the inauguration ceremony held in Abuja.
According to the statement, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, described the inauguration as “a defining moment in Nigeria’s sporting history,” saying Nigeria had moved “from commitment to structure, from policy to action, and from internal management to a fully constituted, independent and law backed institution.” He said the National Anti Doping Act, 2025, established the Nigeria Anti Doping Centre as a statutory body with the legal authority to implement the country’s anti doping obligations.
Akume said Nigeria’s international sporting reputation had been challenged by doping violations over the years, adding that the establishment of the Centre and inauguration of its Technical Board represent the Federal Government’s response to protecting the integrity of Nigerian sports. He told members that their appointment was “a call to service rather than ceremony” and charged them to uphold the law, protect athletes and preserve the credibility of Nigerian sports through professionalism, independence and accountability.
He said the board would educate athletes and stakeholders, prevent doping violations, protect clean athletes and enforce anti doping regulations. He also directed members to extend anti doping education beyond elite competitions to grassroots sports, schools, community clubs, sports academies and national sports federations across the country.
The statement said Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports Development, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, pledged continued legislative support for the country’s anti doping programme. Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, described the inauguration as a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s sports reforms and urged the establishment of a World Anti Doping Agency accredited laboratory in Nigeria. He said the facility would reduce testing costs and turnaround time, strengthen anti doping capacity across Africa and generate revenue through regional testing services. Dikko also urged the board to serve as the “internal compass” of Nigeria’s sports ecosystem by protecting clean athletes and promoting integrity at all levels of sport.
Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olapade, assured that the board would implement the National Anti Doping Act, 2025, with integrity, professionalism and full compliance with international standards. Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Anti Doping Centre, Mainasara Illo, also pledged that the Centre would discharge its responsibilities in line with World Anti Doping Agency best practices. The Technical Board is chaired by Alh. Hon. Bar. Rasheed Olarenwaju Kazeem, who, in his acceptance speech, assured Nigerians that members would faithfully discharge their statutory responsibilities.