The Senate has screened Mainasara Ilo, nominee of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for appointment as Director-General of the National Anti-Doping Centre, as part of efforts to strengthen integrity and regulatory compliance in Nigeria’s sports sector.

During the screening session, Ilo emphasised the importance of establishing a functional anti-doping system to curb cheating in sports and safeguard Nigeria’s eligibility for international competitions.

He noted that global sporting standards now require countries to maintain credible anti-doping mechanisms, warning that failure to comply could expose athletes and national teams to sanctions.

Also, the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Philip Shaibu, stressed the need for stronger collaboration among stakeholders across the sports ecosystem to reposition Nigerian sports for global competitiveness.

He said revitalising the sector would require coordinated institutional efforts and sustained policy implementation aligned with national development objectives.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Abdul Ningi, said Nigeria must prioritise competent leadership and professional expertise to restore its past sporting glory.

According to him, institutional reforms and strategic governance are critical to improving performance standards and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness on the global stage.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Narcotics, Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, raised concerns over funding and technical capacity, particularly, regarding collaboration between the proposed centre and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.

Responding, Ilo disclosed that discussions were already underway with the NDLEA to leverage the agency’s operational expertise and resources to support anti-doping enforcement and testing processes.

The Senate committee is expected to submit its report to the Chamber for further legislative consideration and confirmation proceedings.