Nigeria should bid to host the FIFA World Cup, says Raji Fashola

Nigeria has hosted some important international football competitions in the past like the Under-17 World Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations.

However, since the 2009 U17 FIFA World Cup, the country has not hosted a top football tournament, and the former Governor believes that hosting more competitions would boost the country’s economy and infrastructure.

“A bid to host the world cup by Nigeria alone or along with other West African nations must be led by Nigeria,” Fashola told Thisday.

“The challenges of launching a successful bid are enormous enough but they are nothing compared to the actual hosting.

“I vote for Nigeria to venture and to lead the bid for a major global sporting event. The examples are legion, and for those who are in Qatar, a tiny nation has not only opened herself to the world, and she is projecting herself on a global stage.

“The benefits of the 2022 World Cup are now hers to harvest or throw away. That is the stage where National anthems are rendered with National flags and colours displayed to the pride and admiration of patriots and perhaps the envy of competitors.

“I am able to also report that in the current national development plans, sports is now one of the economic drivers rather than just recreation and a hobby. With the policy now in place, the economic benefits must begin to converge.”