The announcement was made by Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), who confirmed that the proposal had been formally submitted to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) and Formula 1 Management (F1M) through Opus Racing Promotions, Nigeria’s official representative in the negotiations.
“This bid is more than just about hosting a race. It is about showcasing Nigeria’s capacity, creativity, and commitment to developing world-class sporting infrastructure,” Dikko said.
“It is a landmark project that will redefine Nigeria’s place in global motorsport and sports tourism.”
The Abuja Grand Prix proposal reportedly enjoys strong backing from senior government officials and private sector investors eager to position Nigeria as a major destination for international sports events.
According to sources close to the process, F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton, and Tilke Engineers & Architects — the German firm renowned for designing modern F1 circuits — have been invited to Abuja for site inspections and stakeholder meetings in the coming months.
The initiative builds on Nigeria’s growing engagement with global motorsport. Earlier this year, the country successfully hosted the inaugural E1 Lagos GP, the world’s first all-electric powerboat race to take place in Africa. The event, held in March, was widely praised as a showcase of Nigerian innovation and environmental leadership.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described the E1 event as proof of the country’s potential to host world-class sustainable sporting competitions.
Nigeria’s Formula 1 bid also aligns with its broader ambitions to elevate its international sporting profile. The country is currently competing with India to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, with President Bola Tinubu urging the Commonwealth to bring the centenary edition to Africa for the first time.
If successful, the Abuja Grand Prix would not only mark F1’s long-awaited return to Africa but also signal a major milestone in Nigeria’s drive to combine sports, tourism, and infrastructure development on a global scale.