Ben Azi, Head Coach of De Friends Spikers Volleyball Club of Abuja, has called for increased government support and investment in volleyball development in the country.
Azi stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
He expressed confidence that several emerging teams would make strong impressions in the ongoing Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) 2026 Phase One Division One National League in Abuja.
“De Friends Spikers are not participating in the Division One or Division Two leagues this season, preparations were ongoing to compete strongly in future editions.
“My main team is not in Division One or Two of the ongoing league, but hopefully by next season we will be one of the teams to watch,” he said.
Azi said some players from his club were currently featuring for other teams participating in the competition.
“For now, I am supporting a few teams, not because of anything, but because they are my people and because of the quality they are bringing to the tournament.
“I am particularly impressed with the level of preparation and quality displayed by some emerging Division One volleyball teams.
“Especially Light Spikers Volleyball Club of Abuja, Rhino Volleyball Club of Jos in the men’s category and NY Spikers, Queen Amina Team (QAT) Volleyball Club in the women’s category.
“In fact, Light Spikers Volleyball Club were in camp before they were disbanded, and they were called back when the new date was announced,” he said.
The coach expressed confidence that Light Spikers Volleyball Club could secure promotion to the Premier League hopefully this season.
Azi added that his team had remained active for five to six years and participated in all editions of the FCT Abuja Challenge volleyball championship and the club’s men’s team finished fourth in the first two participation.
Speaking on the development of volleyball in Nigeria, Azi identified inadequate funding as a major challenge affecting the growth of the sport.
“The first encouragement is that government should have a good budget for volleyball and sports generally in the country.
“What I see is that the concentration is more on football, but other sports are growing.
“The youth are making efforts to create a name for the country, and if the country does not encourage them, their performance will be limited,” he said.
Azi lamented the growing trend of young players seeking opportunities abroad due to better financial rewards.
Adding that restrictions preventing players from playing two seasons simultaneously often stop them from returning to compete in local leagues.
He argued that improved welfare and support structures would help Nigeria retain and develop more volleyball talents domestically.
The coach also identified Queen Amina Team (QAT) Volleyball Club as one of the promising sides in the women’s category.
He said that the team had been preparing players since 2025 for Division one competition.
He further praised NY Spikers Men’s Division One for expanding by registering a female team, while highlighting Rhino Volleyball Club of Jos as another side with strong potential.
According to him, Rhino Volleyball Club, which gained promotion from Division Two in 2025, possesses young and committed players capable of reaching the Premier League.
“They have young and committed players who gained promotion from Division Two last year. They are one of the teams that could make it to the Premier League,” he said.
The NVBF 2026 Phase One Division One National League began on May 23 and will end on June 5 at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.(NAN)
A Senatorial Aspirant, Isaac Nwachukwu, has dragged Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before a Federal High Court Sitting in Owerri, Imo State, over the fallout of the party’s National Assembly primaries.
Nwachukwu, in a suit filed through his Counsel, Cajethan Oguzie, accused the party of denying him the Imo North senatorial ticket after emerging a consensus candidate and paying N5m for the nomination form.
The suit also disclosed that Nwachukwu had paid N20m for the support of the party, but his support was unexplainably reduced to N10m when the list of those who supported the party was published.
The NDC Senatorial Aspirant, in his prayers before the court, demanded that a declaration should be made that he is the consensus candidate of the party in the state with regard to the Imo North Senatorial Zone in the 2027 General election.
“A declaration that the first defendant, NDC, be restrained from fielding another candidate except the plaintiff in the General election into the Imo North Senatorial Zone as he is the consensus candidate for the said election.
“A declaration that the second defendant, INEC, be perpetually restrained from recognising and accepting the candidacy of another person except the plaintiff in the Imo North Senatorial election pending the determination of the matter,” the suit stated.
In an affidavit supporting the originating summons, Nwachukwu stated that he purchased the expression of interest form to aspire for the position for Imo North senatorial zone, a copy of which is attached in the suit already filed.
The NDC Senatorial Aspirant added that upon the purchase of the form, he made a monetary contribution in support of the party’s growth in the tune of N20m into the party’s FCMB account number through his Counsel, receipt also attached in the suit as an exhibit.
“The first sign of irregularity and no compliance with the NDC constitution and electoral act came up when the N20m I paid for party support was allocated to one of the aspirants for my Senatorial District by the name Matthew Omegara, and the N10m that Matthew Omegara paid for party support was allocated to me by the Screening Committee headed by Sam Egwu and Buba Galadimma.
” In compliance with NDC’s directives, I participated in the NDC screening exercise and was successfully cleared as an aspirant to participate in the primary election.
After my consensus candidacy was ratified, my name was shortlisted as a Candidate for Imo North district. A copy of the result is hereby annexed as Exhibit 1U5,” the affidavit added.
Nwachukwu alleged that his name was substituted with Omegara after he had been declared the winner of the primary election.
The Imo North Senatorial Aspirant claimed that the National leader of the party, Seriake Dickson, had summoned him for a meeting telling him that his candidacy was affected after a party chieftain from his state said he didn’t know him.
Among other demands, Nwachukwu is asking the court to order NDC to issue him a certificate as its candidate for the Imo North Senatorial District.
Supporters and members of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Anka and Talata Mafara Local Government Areas of Zamfara State have alleged attempts to manipulate the party’s membership records and card numbers ahead of internal political activities. The allegation was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Gusau by Nura Rabiu Cibiki, Director of Media and Strategy, Campaign and Mobilisation Committee for Abdulrahaman Yahaya, an aspirant for the House of Representatives seat representing Anka/Talata Mafara Federal Constituency.
The group warned against any attempt to alter or duplicate legitimate membership figures, saying such actions could deepen tensions within the party in the constituency.
“We strongly oppose any move to manipulate or duplicate legitimate membership figures, warning that such actions would only worsen existing tensions within the party and the Anka/Talata Mafara Federal Constituency,” the statement said.
The supporters maintained that ADC members in Anka and Talata Mafara were aware of the party’s authentic membership strength and were prepared to protect the integrity of the party’s records.
The statement added that while justice may be delayed, the truth could not be denied.
Meanwhile, Yahaya has filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Gusau challenging alleged irregularities in the party’s primary election process in the constituency.
The court has fixed June 23, 2026, for mention of the case.