The Delta State Sports Commission has warned the National Sports Commission to abide by the Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, it signed in 2023 with the then Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, now National Sports Commission, to host four consecutive editions of the games.
It said it would not accept any decision by the National Sports Commission to hand over hosting rights of the 2026 National Youth Games to Lagos.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, the functional Director-General of the Commission, Ms Muobo Igalase, said Delta State remains bound by the agreement.
She added that the renaming of the federal ministry to the National Sports Commission does not invalidate the MoU, describing any attempt to strip Delta of the hosting rights as “a breach of trust and disregard for a binding agreement.”
She maintained that Delta remains fully prepared to welcome the rest of the country in September 2026, confident of once again setting the pace in talent discovery.
Meanwhile, the Delta State Sports Commission advised the National Sports Commission to consider Lagos as host of the maiden edition of the proposed National Intermediate Games, a new platform designed to bridge the transition of young athletes discovered at the National Youth Games into senior careers.
She said Lagos, as Nigeria’s commercial hub, is well positioned to pioneer the competition just as it did for several national sporting innovations in the past.
According to her, Delta’s contributions to Nigerian sports cannot be undermined, as the state has over the years produced champions across athletics, football, boxing, swimming, and weightlifting, many of whom have gone on to shine on continental and global stages.
“Delta has demonstrated capacity, infrastructure, and passion to nurture raw talents into national treasures. From the school sports festivals to grassroots tournaments, the state has built a system that keeps Nigeria’s sporting dreams alive,” she stated.
Delta insists on 2026 National Youth Games rights
