In a bold and historic move, Nigeria has officially submitted a bid to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix in the nation’s capital, Abuja — potentially becoming the first African country in over 30 years to bring the premier motorsport event back to the continent.
The announcement was made by Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission, who described the initiative as a landmark moment in Nigeria’s growing ambitions on the global sports stage. The bid marks a significant stride in the country’s broader vision of sports as a catalyst for economic growth, tourism, and international recognition.
According to Dikko, Opus Race Promotions has been selected as the official representative leading Nigeria’s bid. The company is co-headed by former Premier League footballer Marvin Sordell and is already in talks with Formula 1 and the sport’s governing body, the FIA.
“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, and economic growth,” Dikko said in a statement from Abuja.
The proposal is aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE). The program seeks to reset and revitalize the sports sector to attract foreign investment, promote exports, and significantly boost its contribution to Nigeria’s GDP.
Plans go well beyond hosting a race. Opus Race Promotions has revealed ambitions to develop a broader motorsport ecosystem in Abuja, including the construction of a karting track, hotels, a technology hub, and related infrastructure — all of which aim to spark long-term economic and social benefits.
Africa has a storied, albeit distant, history with Formula 1. South Africa previously hosted races from 1967 to 1993 at the Kyalami circuit, but no African country has staged a race since then. With Nigeria’s bid now in motion, hopes are rising for the continent’s return to the F1 calendar.
Momentum for an African Grand Prix has also been building within the sport itself. At the 2024 Dutch Grand Prix, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton once again voiced his support for bringing F1 to Africa. “We can’t be adding races in other locations and continuing to ignore Africa, which the rest of the world just takes from. No one gives anything to Africa,” Hamilton said.
While there’s still a long journey ahead before Nigeria’s dream can become reality, the foundations are being laid — and the excitement is palpable.
