The National Sports Commission (NSC) has officially declared Nigeria’s intention to host a Formula 1 (F1) Grand Prix, with Abuja proposed as the venue for the high-profile international motorsport event.

Announcing the development, NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko confirmed the appointment of Opus Racing Promotions as the commission’s official representative for the F1 hosting bid. As part of ongoing engagement efforts, invitations have been extended to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, and Tilke Engineers & Architects the globally acclaimed racetrack designers to visit Nigeria and meet with key stakeholders across both public and private sectors.

“We are exploring all possibilities to bring Formula 1 to Nigeria as soon as practicable not just as a sporting event, but as a catalytic driver of tourism, infrastructure development, youth engagement, economy, and indeed soft power for Nigeria,” Dikko stated.

He emphasized that securing an F1 Grand Prix would elevate national pride, attract significant private sector investment, stimulate job creation, and contribute to Nigeria’s GDP growth.

If successful, Nigeria would become the first African nation to host a Formula 1 race since South Africa’s last Grand Prix in 1993. However, competition is stiff, as both South Africa and Rwanda are also in talks to secure hosting rights.

Formula 1 races are typically conducted on either purpose-built tracks or hybrid circuits layouts that combine public roads with custom-built segments. Dikko noted that the Abuja bid, supported by BL Practice Hub, is a bold statement of Nigeria’s global aspirations and its readiness to showcase its potential on the international stage.

The NSC’s pursuit of the Grand Prix is part of a broader strategy to position Nigeria as a hub for world-class sporting events and economic transformation through sport and entertainment.