…Presidential Aide Congratulates Team Nigeria on Historic Commonwealth Games Campaign, Says First in Africa Finish Signals a New Era for Nigerian Sports

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, has congratulated Team Nigeria on its outstanding performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, describing the country’s historic campaign as a defining moment in the ongoing transformation of Nigerian sports under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

Speaking at the conclusion of the Games in Glasgow, where he joined the leadership of the National Sports Commission in supporting Team Nigeria throughout the competition, Hon. Adeboye said the country’s achievement of finishing seventh overall, first in Africa, with 10 gold, 7 silver and 7 bronze medals, was a reflection of strategic leadership, improved athlete welfare, quality preparation and renewed national ambition.

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“Glasgow has shown what Nigeria can achieve when we invest in our athletes. Now, we must take that success back to the grassroots. Every medal won here is a reminder that somewhere in our schools, communities and local government areas are thousands of young Nigerians with the potential to become future Commonwealth, Olympic and world champions.”

The Presidential aide noted that beyond the medal count, Team Nigeria’s performances demonstrated that the country is building a broader and more sustainable sporting culture, with podium finishes recorded across athletics, para athletics, para powerlifting, weightlifting and judo.

He described the emergence of young stars and the breaking of long-standing records as evidence that Nigeria is entering a new era where excellence is being driven by deliberate planning rather than chance.

According to Hon. Adeboye, the Games will be remembered for the courage and resilience displayed by athletes who not only won medals but also rewrote history through world records, national milestones and breakthrough performances.

“This has been more than a successful Commonwealth Games campaign. It has been a statement to the world that Nigerian sports is rising again. Our athletes have shown courage, discipline and character, while proving that with the right support they can compete with the very best anywhere in the world.”

The SSA particularly commended athletes who made history during the Games, including those who won Commonwealth titles, broke world records, ended decades-long medal droughts and inspired millions of Nigerians through exceptional performances.

He noted that the achievements of athletes such as Samuel Ogazi, Ezekiel Nathaniel, Goodness Nwachukwu, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, Temitope Adeshina, Jessica Oji, Kayinsola Ajayi, Udodi Onwuzurike, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Ruth Usoro, Enku Ekuta, and the country’s relay teams have demonstrated the enormous depth of talent available in Nigeria.

Hon. Adeboye also applauded the leadership of the National Sports Commission, under the Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, for introducing athlete-focused reforms that have transformed Team Nigeria’s preparation and performance.

He said initiatives such as improved training programmes, enhanced welfare packages and instant financial rewards for medal-winning athletes have created a winning culture that is already delivering tangible results on the international stage.

“The success recorded in Glasgow did not happen overnight. It is the product of visionary leadership, careful planning, proper athlete preparation and a renewed commitment to excellence. The National Sports Commission deserves commendation for creating an environment where Nigerian athletes can focus on achieving greatness.”

The Presidential aide reaffirmed that the next phase of Nigeria’s sporting development must be centred on grassroots sports, stressing that sustained international success can only be achieved by strengthening the talent pipeline from schools and local communities.

He disclosed that his office remains committed to implementing programmes that will expand grassroots sports infrastructure, revive school sports, strengthen talent identification and create opportunities for young athletes across all 774 Local Government Areas of the country.

According to him, the success of Team Nigeria in Glasgow should serve as a catalyst for increased collaboration among government institutions, the private sector, sports federations, educational institutions and development partners.

“Our assignment does not end in Glasgow. This success must inspire us to work even harder to ensure that every gifted Nigerian child has access to facilities, quality coaching and opportunities to compete. That is how we will sustain this momentum and build a lasting sporting legacy for future generations.”

Hon. Adeboye further thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to repositioning Nigerian sports through the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the restoration of the National Sports Commission has already begun to produce measurable results.

He expressed confidence that the performances witnessed in Glasgow would mark the beginning of even greater achievements for Nigerian sports on the continental and global stage.

“Finishing as Africa’s number one nation at the Commonwealth Games is a remarkable achievement, but it should also challenge us to aim even higher. With sustained investment, stronger grassroots development and continued support for our athletes, Nigeria can become one of the world’s leading sporting nations.”

As Team Nigeria returns home with 24 medals and the distinction of being Africa’s highest-ranked nation at Glasgow 2026, Hon. Adeboye urged Nigerians to celebrate the athletes and continue supporting the reforms that are laying the foundation for a brighter future for Nigerian sports.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that the smoke observed at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Sunday was not caused by a fire but by the discharge of the terminal’s fire suppression system.

The clarification came hours after the authority initially announced that a fire incident had occurred at the terminal, prompting an emergency response and raising concerns among passengers and airport users.

In its first statement, FAAN said a fire had broken out at Terminal 2 and disclosed that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service (ARFFS) had been deployed to contain the situation.

“The FAAN Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service is currently responding to the incident and working diligently to contain the situation,” the authority said, adding that no casualties or loss of life had been recorded.

The announcement triggered emergency response measures at the airport before FAAN issued a fresh update later in the day, clarifying the nature of the incident.

According to the authority, preliminary investigations showed there was no fire at the terminal.

“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN said.

The authority added that normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations continue to determine what triggered the fire suppression system.

“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” it added.

Any report of fire or smoke at an airport automatically triggers emergency response procedures due to the potential risks to passengers, aircraft, and critical airport infrastructure.

FAAN also thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of airport operations.

Comes five months after a major fire incident at the airport

Although a fire did not cause Sunday’s incident, it came barely five months after a major blaze at the airport’s international terminal disrupted flight operations and damaged critical aviation infrastructure.

In February, PREMIUM TIMES reported that a fire at Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport forced the temporary closure of the Lagos airfield, causing flight delays and diversions as emergency responders battled the blaze.

The incident left six people injured, while 14 people trapped inside the control tower were rescued. It also damaged critical infrastructure, including weather equipment belonging to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

Following the February incident, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, announced plans to demolish the ageing Terminal 1 after describing the damage as extensive. The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria also ordered a comprehensive structural audit of the affected facility ahead of reconstruction.

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While Sunday’s incident was quickly resolved without injuries or significant disruption to flight operations, it has renewed attention on the resilience of critical infrastructure and emergency preparedness at Nigeria’s busiest aviation gateway, coming just five months after the February fire.

The Murtala Muhammed International Airport is Nigeria’s busiest aviation gateway, handling millions of domestic and international passengers annually.

FAAN said investigations are continuing to determine why the FM-200 fire suppression system was activated and promised to provide further updates as more information becomes available.