Shehu Dikko Replies Tobi Amusan, Says Sports Kits Not Inferior
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, has dismissed claims that the sports kits supplied to Nigerian athletes at the ongoing international championships are inferior.
Former world champion and women’s 100m hurdles record holder, Tobi Amusan, had criticised Nigerian sports authorities over the kits provided for herself and other athletes representing the country at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo.
With just few hours to the kick-off of the championships, Amusan voiced her concerns over what she perceived as unprofessionalism and a lack of coordination within the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.
In a video she shared on her Snapchat, Amusan said, unlike other countries that provided their contingents with kits in suitcases, the Nigerian government handed them their own kits in nylon bags with little or nothing significant in them.
She complained about the quality of the competition wear and highlighted that despite officials collecting shoe sizes, no shoes were included in the kit bags.
However, the AFN dismissed Amusan’s claims that athletes were handed poor-quality kits for the championships, insisting that the hurdler was given the full kits, as her teammates and even she received special treatment in travel arrangements.
In an interview, AFN President, Tonobok Okowa, rejected Amusan’s allegations, stressing that the federation had provided the full complement of kits in line with the arrangement with Hiracer, a global sportswear company sponsoring athletes from 20 countries at the Tokyo championships.
Also reacting in an interview Dikko said the kits procured through HiRacer were of the same quality used by athletes from other countries, stressing that the controversy is unnecessary.
“The kits are not inferior. I thought the AFN should have been praised for quickly getting the transaction with HiRacer,” he said.
The sports administrator explained that the uproar may have arisen from the packaging and distribution method rather than the quality of the items.
“If you look at other countries, they are also using similar kits from HiRacer. It is just probably about the packaging because it was not put in a box or bought in bulk like others are doing,” he noted.
Dikko stated that Amusan, who had raised concerns about the kits, said her grievance was likely tied to presentation and delivery.
“Probably she has an issue with the packaging, the quantity, yes. But the Athletics Federation of Nigeria has already explained that they are providing the kits in bits and pieces, so it shouldn’t really be an issue,” he stated.
He added that the procurement arrangement with HiRacer included bonuses and incentives for athletes who excel in their events.
He added, “The athletes have been using the same kits, and those kits are comparable in quality to what any other athlete is using. That is the situation with the kits.”
Nigeria has a history of controversies surrounding the provision of kits at major international tournament
(Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe)