Nigeria Submits Bid To Host Formula 1 Grand Prix

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has officially declared Nigeria’s interest in hosting a Formula 1 Grand Prix, with Abuja being proposed as the host city.

NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko has appointed Opus Racing Promotions as the commission’s official representative for the bid and extended invitations to key figures in the F1 world—including Formula 1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, and renowned track designers Tilke Engineers & Architects—to visit Nigeria for stakeholder engagement.

“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, the economy and soft power for Nigeria,” Dikko said.

He emphasized that hosting the Grand Prix would boost national pride, strengthen infrastructure, attract private investment, create jobs, and contribute to Nigeria’s GDP growth.

If successful, Nigeria would become the first African nation to host an F1 race since South Africa in 1993. However, the bid faces competition, with both South Africa and Rwanda also expressing interest in hosting the event.

Formula 1 races are typically held on custom-built circuits or a mix of street and race tracks. Dikko noted that the Nigerian bid—supported by BL Practice Hub—is part of a larger strategy to position the country on the global sports stage.