Nigeria’s track and field authorities have launched a formal investigation into claims of age discrepancies involving athletes who represented the country at the 2025 African U-18 and U-20 Championships in Abeokuta. The move follows a query from the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), which flagged several competitors for conflicting date-of-birth records.

According to information made available , the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has assembled a four-member panel chaired by its vice president, Abubakar Gurmi. Other members of the committee include seasoned sports administrators Musa Amadu, Olumide Oyedeji and Dele Edokoayi. Their task is to review documentation, verify athlete records and determine whether any deliberate falsification occurred.

The urgency behind the probe stems from a directive issued by the AIU, which, in a correspondence obtained by PUNCH Sports Extra, ordered the AFN to provide a detailed response no later than 5 p.m. CET on January 16, 2026. The panel must therefore conclude its inquiries and present findings well before the global watchdog’s deadline.

This intensified scrutiny comes on the heels of the federation’s initial statement on Monday, in which AFN secretary-general Israel Inwang confirmed that president Tonobok Okowa had authorised a full-scale inquiry. Inwang emphasised that maintaining integrity within Nigerian athletics is “non-negotiable,” adding that the committee is empowered to establish the facts and identify any individuals—athletes or officials—who may have violated regulations.

The situation has also drawn swift involvement from the National Sports Commission (NSC). Commission chairman Shehu Dikko expressed dissatisfaction with the development, warning that any official found complicit in age manipulation would face firm disciplinary action. Age-grade competitions, he noted, must be shielded from malpractice if Nigeria is to uphold credibility in international sport.

Echoing this position, NSC Director General Bukola Olopade said the federation must demonstrate competence and thoroughness to avert further reputational damage. He stressed that the AIU query placed Nigeria under uncomfortable global scrutiny, and that the AFN must respond in a manner that restores confidence.

With less than two months to meet the AIU’s deadline, the AFN panel is expected to work with speed and precision. Its findings will determine the next steps for both the athletes involved and the officials responsible for safeguarding the integrity of Nigerian athletics.