By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata
Nigeria has officially submitted a bid to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix in Abuja, signaling a possible return of the sport to Africa for the first time since 1993.
Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko, said the proposal was submitted to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Formula 1 Management through Opus Racing Promotions, Nigeria’s official representative.
Dikko described the bid as a showcase of Nigeria’s capacity and commitment to world-class sports infrastructure, saying it would boost tourism and global visibility.
The Abuja Grand Prix has drawn support from top government officials and private partners, with F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton expected for site inspections.
The move follows Nigeria’s successful hosting of the E1 Lagos GP, Africa’s first all-electric powerboat race, earlier this year.
