By Andrew Abah, Abuja
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) who is also the newly elected President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has donated a brand new bus to the Federation to support the smooth movement and logistics of athletes.
Adeniyi made the donation during his visit to the national wrestling team’s camp on Saturday at Package B of the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, where athletes are fine-tuning preparations for the forthcoming Islamic Solidarity Games in Saudi Arabia.
Presenting the keys of the new bus to the Federation’s Secretary, the NWF President described the gesture as his first official assignment since assuming office.
He explained that the move was part of his commitment to enhancing athletes’ welfare and providing better support systems for the national team.
He recalled that the decision to provide the bus was inspired by a tragic accident involving the team last year while returning from a tournament in Bayelsa, an incident that claimed lives and left the team’s vehicle beyond repairs.
“Since that incident, I made up my mind to replace the vehicle to ease the Federation’s transportation challenges.
“This bus is a token of appreciation for the sacrifices of our athletes and a step towards improving their welfare.”
The CGC also used the visit to interact with the wrestlers and coaching crew, commending their commitment, discipline and readiness for the Games. He stressed the importance of integrity and fair play in sports, urging the athletes to uphold Nigeria’s image with pride and honesty.
“We do not want to achieve glory through foul means,” he said. “My charge to you is simple — go out there, compete clean and win clean. I would prefer a disciplined athlete to an indiscipline winner.”
The NWF President expressed confidence in the future of Nigerian wrestling, noting the rise of young vibrant talents who are poised to taking over from celebrated champions like Blessing Oborududu and Mercy Genesis.
He assured that under his leadership, the Federation would provide better welfare packages, increased exposure and long-term support for athletes, even beyond their active competition years.
“We will be bold and intentional about improving athletes’ welfare,” he pledged. “We want to help them transition into other areas of the sport coaching, officiating, administration, or even sports journalism — because we value their contributions and believe in their potential.”
The NWF President also revealed plans to extend similar corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to other sports bodies, including the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation, reaffirming his belief in sports as a vital tool for youth empowerment and national development.
He encouraged the wrestlers to remain focused and disciplined as they prepare for international competition, saying, “soar high, compete clean and make Nigeria proud both on and off the mat,” he enthused.
