Team Nigeria has received a major welfare package ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with the National Sports Commission (NSC) unveiling improved financial incentives and support for athletes and officials before the July 23 opening ceremony.
The enhanced package, introduced under the Federal Government’s sports development initiative, features increased camping and competition allowances, improved travel support, and higher performance-based rewards.
Under the new arrangement, gold medal winners will receive $5,000, silver medallists $3,000, and bronze medallists $2,000, with the rewards to be paid directly into the athletes’ bank accounts.
According to a statement issued in Abuja, each athlete and official has been provided ₦250,000 to cover transportation to the national training camp in Abuja, replacing the previous transport allowance. An additional ₦250,000 has also been approved to facilitate their return journey after the Games.
Daily camping allowances have also been increased to ₦5,000 for athletes and ₦7,500 for officials, significantly higher than the previous rates.
For the overseas training camp, athletes are receiving $150 per day, while coaches receive $200 daily, with only a few payments delayed due to banking-related issues.
Competition allowances have equally been reviewed upward, with athletes set to earn $200 per day during the Games and coaches $250 per day, an improvement on the payments made during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Team Nigeria has also been supplied with upgraded PUMA competition kits comprising about 20 items, including premium luggage and two travel boxes for each athlete.
In addition, the Federal Government has approved instant medal bonuses of $3,000 for gold, $2,000 for silver and $1,000 for bronze medallists, while coaches will receive similar incentives. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is also expected to host Team Nigeria’s medal winners after the competition.
Meanwhile, reigning women’s 100 metres hurdles world record holder, Tobi Amusan, has joined Team Nigeria’s training camp in Aberdeen, Scotland, ahead of the Games.
Amusan commended the training facilities provided by the NSC and expressed optimism that the Nigerian contingent would deliver an impressive performance.
She said the positive atmosphere within the camp had boosted the athletes’ confidence, expressing hope that Team Nigeria would secure a strong medal haul and finish among the competition’s top-performing nations.
The NSC established the high-performance training camp in Aberdeen to give Nigerian athletes access to world-class facilities as they complete preparations for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.