New National Athletics Coach Aliyu Promises Reforms

Newly appointed national athletics head coach, Solomon Aliyu, has pledged sweeping reforms aimed at rebuilding Nigeria’s technical coaching framework and restoring discipline across the federation’s programmes.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria named the retired Deputy Superintendent of Police as head coach in what it described as an “uncommon” decision, intended to usher in a new era of high-performance coaching and athlete development.

The appointment, announced on Tuesday by AFN Secretary General Israel Inwang, takes immediate effect. Aliyu will be responsible for overseeing national coaching structures and spearheading technical reforms for both domestic and international engagements. In an interview with The PUNCH, Aliyu expressed gratitude to the AFN for the confidence reposed in him.

“I feel honoured to be considered worthy of this appointment by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria,” Aliyu said.

“It is a significant responsibility, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me.” Responding to the AFN’s characterisation of his appointment as “uncommon,” Aliyu acknowledged that only the federation could fully explain the basis for the recognition, but pointed to his longstanding contributions to national assignments as a key factor.

“I’ve been active in the coaching space for quite some time,” he said.

“Over the years, I have had the honour of being invited on several occasions to prepare Nigerian athletes for international competitions, and I’ve always done my best in those roles.” Aliyu’s appointment comes at a time of focus on the technical direction of Nigerian athletics.

According to the AFN, his duties will include overseeing all national athletics coaching programmes, developing athlete development strategies, preparing coaches for global meets, and proposing high-performance frameworks aligned with international standards.

He is also expected to work closely with the federation’s technical director to deliver a unified coaching structure across all levels. While Aliyu declined to publicly itemise his immediate action plan, he assured that consultations were already in motion.

“As the president of the Coaches Association, I am already familiar with the issues we face,” he explained.