Ernest Osogbue.
Rwanda has signed a 10-year deal with Formula 1 to host races in Africa starting sometime in the 2030’s. This agreement effectively shuts Nigeria out of the running to host F1 in Abuja, contrary to NSC chairman Shehu Dikko’s earlier assertion that F1 could berth in Nigeria.
The Rwandan race would be called the African Grand Prix and will be held on a new, purpose-built circuit in Bugesera, 25 miles south of the capital Kigali, and next to the city’s new international airport. On commencement, it would be the first F1 race in Africa since 1993, when South Africa hosted the inaugural edition.
According to F1, the project is a result of years of collaboration to ensure the right foundations, with the best partner, are in place to deliver a successful, sustainable, and world-class grand prix for generations to come. This implies, that the Nigerian bid failed to meet the standards.
The National Sports Commission NSC, had not too long ago, gone into partnership with Opus Racing Promotions, with a view to having Abuja host F1 races. The agreement between F1 and Rwanda, thus puts a spanner in the works, of an Abuja F1 dream.
It has now become a regular pattern for Nigeria to desire to host the world, and for other African countries to beat her to it, a mark of the nation’s dwindling influence on the continent. Nigeria’s bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2014, was scuttled, after Glasgow beat Abuja to get the nod, with many African countries voting against Abuja. South Africa ultimately got the nod to host the 2022 Games, only to be thwarted by financial challenges.
The same South Africa hosted the Fifa World Cup in 2010, with Morocco poised to host the 2030 edition alongside Spain and Portugal. Ahmedabad, India, also recently, beat Abuja to the hosting rights of the 2030 Commonwealth Games, after an uninspiring Nigerian bid.
Nigeria was left scrambling to host the upcoming Caf Executive Committee meeting, a non-event, in comparison with global sporting fiestas. The only multinational sports event hosted by Nigeria in recent memory, was the African Games in 2003, 23 years ago. It becomes a big challenge to the NSC chairman, Shehu Dikko, the Director General, Bukola Olopade, to find a winning formular, for Nigeria to bid and win the hosting rights to international sports events. This is after President Tinubu had made it clear he was open to Nigeria hosting a multinational national sports event during his tenure.
