Reps back Bash Ali’s Guinness boxing dream, rule out government funding

Nigeria's House of Representatives has advised veteran boxer Bash Ali to pursue private funding for his long-anticipated Guinness World Record Boxing Championship. The lawmakers also urged relevant government agencies to offer regulatory and logistical support, provided it falls within their statutory responsibilities and does not incur government expenditure.

The resolution came after the House Committee on Public Petitions, chaired by Mr. Kwamoti Bitrus, considered a petition filed by Ali. The former cruiserweight champion, who aims to become the oldest boxer to compete in a professional championship bout, has spent over two decades advocating for the event to be held in Nigeria. Ali's petition alleged that officials from the National Sports Commission had engaged in sabotage and created administrative impediments, hindering the historic boxing event.

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the petitioner (Bash Ali) should proceed strictly within the framework of a privately-funded initiative and in accordance with all applicable regulatory requirements governing sporting events in Nigeria.

The committee recommended that Ali proceed with the project strictly as a privately funded initiative, adhering to all applicable regulatory requirements for sporting events in Nigeria. The House adopted this recommendation, emphasizing that the petitioner should operate within the framework of a privately-funded venture.

Furthermore, the lawmakers directed the National Sports Commission to ensure a fair and transparent process for approvals and other regulatory requirements related to the championship. The adopted report stated that the commission should provide a non-discriminatory regulatory environment, including timely processing of approvals and access to facilities on standard terms. The House also called on relevant government institutions to offer non-financial assistance, such as security, protocol coordination, and international liaison, upon formal request and when deemed appropriate, without creating financial liabilities for the government. The decision signals a potential turning point for a project that has faced prolonged delays.

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the National Sports Commission should, within its statutory mandate, provide a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory regulatory environment, including timely processing of approvals, access to facilities on standard terms and coordination with relevant agencies for security and logistics.