Former LMC boss Shehu Dikko appointed Chairman of National Sports Commission

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Shehu Dikko as the Chairman of the newly reconstituted National Sports Commission (NSC). This announcement follows the government’s decision to abolish the Ministry of Sports Development and transfer its functions to the NSC.

The move aims to foster a more vibrant sports economy and streamline sports administration in the country.

As part of the restructuring, Senator John Enoh, who served as the Minister of Sports Development, has been reassigned to the role of Minister of State for Trade and Investment.

In addition, Tinubu’s administration made broader changes, including replacing the Ministry of Niger Delta with the Ministry of Regional Development to supervise the various regional development commissions.

Born in Kaduna State, Dikko is a seasoned football administrator with extensive experience in Nigerian sports management. He previously chaired the League Management Company (LMC), overseeing the operations of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL).

Dikko has also worked as a sports consultant for the Nigerian House of Representatives’ Sports Committee, contributing to key legislative reforms.

In 2022, he contested for the presidency of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) but later stepped down, allowing Ibrahim Gusau to emerge as the NFF president.

The shake-up in sports administration is part of a broader reorganization by President Tinubu’s government. In addition to abolishing the sports ministry, the Federal Ministry of Tourism and the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture were merged into the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy.

The government hopes that these changes will create a more efficient and productive public sector that supports economic growth and development across various sectors, including sports.

Dikko’s appointment comes with high expectations, as the new NSC chairman is tasked with elevating Nigerian sports to greater heights and promoting the country’s sports industry at home and abroad.