The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has dismissed claims that Nigerian athletes were provided with substandard kits at the ongoing World Championships in Tokyo.
This follows strong criticism from world hurdles champion and record holder, Tobi Amusan, who accused sports officials of poor preparation and unprofessionalism in the handling of kits for Team Nigeria.
In a Snapchat video, Amusan lamented that while athletes from other nations received suitcases filled with gear, Nigerian athletes were handed nylon bags with few items. She also claimed that despite officials collecting shoe sizes, no footwear was included in the kits.
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), however, denied her allegations, insisting that all athletes—including Amusan—received the full set of kits under the federation’s arrangement with global sportswear company HiRacer, one of the official sponsors of the championships. AFN President Tonobok Okowa stressed that the items were of international standard and in line with provisions given to athletes from 20 other countries.
Speaking on Channels Television, Dikko echoed the AFN’s defence, insisting that the kits were of the same quality as those provided to other competing nations. He suggested that the controversy may have stemmed from the way the items were packaged and distributed.
“The kits are not inferior. If you check, other countries using HiRacer have the same quality. It’s just the packaging—it wasn’t in a box or suitcase like some others did, but that doesn’t make it substandard,” Dikko explained.
He acknowledged that Amusan’s frustrations might have been more about presentation and logistics rather than the actual gear.
“Probably she has an issue with the packaging or the quantity, but the AFN has already explained that kits are being distributed in phases. That shouldn’t be an issue,” he added.
Dikko further revealed that the sponsorship deal with HiRacer included performance incentives for Nigerian athletes who excel at the championships.
Nigeria has a history of controversies around kits and preparation at major international events. From the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to the 2022 Commonwealth Games, complaints of late arrivals, inadequate supply, and sponsorship disputes have regularly sparked criticism of sports administrators.
Amusan, who won Nigeria’s first-ever World Championships gold in 2022, has often spoken up on issues of athlete welfare. Her latest comments have once again reignited public debate on the state of sports administration and the need for greater transparency and accountability.
