Nigeria takes the forefront in Africa's bid to host the 2034 Commonwealth Games

Nigeria has emerged as a frontrunner in Africa's bid to host the 2034 Commonwealth Games, with the National Sports Commission intensifying its efforts to secure the hosting rights for the continent and establish the country as a strong contender for the event.

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The NSC had previously submitted a robust bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, which would have marked the centenary celebration of the event, but ultimately lost out to India, which won the hosting rights.

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Africa's wait to host the Commonwealth Games continues, despite growing demands for the event to be staged on the continent for the first time in its history, following Abuja's unsuccessful bid.

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At the 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting in Glasgow, NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko made a strong case for Africa to be considered exclusively for hosting the 2034 Games.

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The Nigerian delegation was subsequently invited to a strategic meeting with the Commonwealth Games Federation, where the focus was on the process of awarding the 2034 hosting rights.

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According to the NSC, the resolutions reached at the 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting in Glasgow are already yielding positive outcomes for Africa's ambition to host the 2034 Commonwealth Games.

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Following the meeting, where NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko successfully advocated for Africa to be considered as host of the 2034 Games, the Nigerian delegation engaged in discussions with the Commonwealth Games Federation on the pathways, timelines, and requirements for the award of the hosting rights.

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The talks centered on the ministerial resolution that the Games should be held in Africa, and this development marks an important first step in translating the resolution into a structured process, with Nigeria now actively engaged in discussions on the continent's hosting ambitions.

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Nigeria's renewed bid to host the 2034 Commonwealth Games comes on the heels of an impressive performance by Team Nigeria at the just-concluded 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

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At the 2026 Games, the country competed in 10 sports with 72 athletes, winning 24 medals, comprising 10 gold, seven silver, and seven bronze, to finish seventh on the medals table and emerge as the best-performing African nation.