Nigeria Athletes Won't Pay $9 Fee After Federation Steps In

Nigerian athletes just dodged a financial barrier that could have kept talented runners off the track.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria announced it won't let a proposed 15,000 naira (roughly $9 USD) registration fee stand in the way of aspiring athletes. The charge appeared on a new digital platform called Roster Athletics, sparking immediate concern from champions and coaches across the country.

Nigeria's 100-meter record holder Olusoji Fasuba publicly warned that the fee would shut out grassroots athletes who can't afford the cost. His voice joined a chorus of criticism that reached federation President Tonobok Okowa's desk within days.

Okowa responded quickly and clearly. "We have not fixed a price, and it will definitely not be N15,000," he told reporters. "The AFN is not ready to make any gain from the athletes."

The platform itself is actually good news. Roster Athletics launched on January 13 to solve real problems in Nigerian sports, including age cheating and poor record keeping. The system will handle online registration, automated seeding, and tamper-proof athlete records across all national championships.

The controversy started because Roster Athletics set the initial price without final approval. Okowa explained the federation is now negotiating hard to drop that number significantly or remove it entirely.

The Bright Side

This story shows sports governance working the way it should. When stakeholders speak up and leaders listen, everyone wins.

The federation could have defended the fee or blamed the tech company. Instead, Okowa publicly committed to affordability over profit. He even said any money meant for the federation's share would be reduced or absorbed completely.

The new platform will still roll out with its anti-cheating features and professional data management. State associations, clubs, and road race organizers will all get access to the same system that meets international standards.

Nigerian athletics gets modernized technology without pricing out the next generation of champions.