Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), President Engineer Habu Gumel, has been admonished to hand over power to younger, vibrant and credible candidates in order to reposition the moribund Olympic movement.
The founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Athletics and Other Sports Development Commission, Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, made the call while speaking with sportswriters in Abuja ahead of the NOC election coming up later in 2026.
Gara-Gombe specifically pinpointed the likes of Nigeria Table Tennis Federation stalwart, Wahid Enitan Oshodi, Nigeria Volleyball Federation, President Musa Nimrod and Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, and one Victor Okorie among individuals he believes have the wherewithal- credibility, exposure and experience to take the NOC to a higher pedestal.
“There are so many credible people within the federations,” he said.
“These are people of credible substance and means, younger and vibrant that has what it takes.”
Gara-Gombe wondered how long Gumel intended to continue to perpetuate himself in the office, without commensurate improvement in the fortunes of the NOC.
“How long does he want to stay there? He was there before. He came back, and if he is performing, nobody will complain,” Gara-Gombe said.
Gara-Gombe challenged Gumel and sports federation heads to present transparent statements of accounts regarding funds received from international bodies like the IOC and ANOCA.
“Where is their financial and other report? Gumel should give us NOC audited report for the past twenty years” he said.
He equally added that NOC under Gumel is been spoon fed by the National Sports Commission and queried its supposedly independence despite its status as a private entity.
“If you look at the opening chapter of NOC, it says an independent private organisation. But they are still occupying Federal Government offices. Where is their independence?” he asked.
The former chairman of the Gombe State Athletics Association concluded that the ‘NOC is in dire need of credible leadership capable of reestablishing accountability, development and professionalism to Nigeria’s Olympic movement.
Gumel first assumed the mantle of leadership in 2001. His first two tenure ended in 2010. He was interim president from 2010 to 2014.
He staged big comeback in 2014 and since then remained in office.