House Supports Bash Ali’s Boxing Project, Rules Out Public Funding

The House of Representatives has backed veteran Nigerian boxer, Bash Ali, in his bid to stage a Guinness World Record championship fight, but insists the project must be privately funded.

The resolution followed the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Public Petitions at plenary in Abuja.

Presenting the report, Committee Chairman Kwamoti Bitrus said the petition filed by Bash Ali against the National Sports Commission alleged repeated administrative delays and regulatory bottlenecks that had stalled preparations for the proposed bout.

The committee, however, recommended that the boxing project proceed strictly as a privately financed initiative in line with existing sports regulations.

Adopting the report, the House stressed that while government agencies may offer regulatory oversight, they must not provide financial support for the event.

They directed the National Sports Commission to ensure a fair and transparent approval process, including timely processing of permits and coordination on security and logistics, within its statutory mandate.

The House also said any government involvement should be limited to non-financial support such as security, protocol assistance, and international liaison, where necessary.

It further urged the Federal Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Commission to clearly define the limits of government participation in privately organised sporting events to avoid future disputes.

Oduyemi Odumade, Edited By Grace Namiji