Nigeria’s National Sport Commission may just be living in a fairytale dream as news broke out on Wednesday, July 22 of the Country possibly hosting the most expensive sport in the world, a Formula 1 Grand Prix in Abuja, the nation’s Capital.
At first, many saw it as cock and bull stories until, an official statement from the National Sport Commission was made available to the general public.
Chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko described the move as “game changer,” appointing Opus Racing Promotions, co‑led by former Premier League star Marvin Sordell, as the official representative in talks with F1 and the FIA.
According to Dikko, invitations have already been extended to F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali, seven‑time champion Lewis Hamilton, and Tilke Engineers & Architects to visit Abuja and meet with stakeholders on the possibility of bringing the most expensive sport in the world to Nigeria.
Dikko further articulated that the bid aligns with the country’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE), positioning motorsport as a driver of tourism, infrastructure growth, youth empowerment, foreign investment, and GDP contribution
The last time an F1 race was in Africa was Kyalami 1993, a South African Circuit.
On the face of it, Nigeria’s entry into the F1 hosting race may spark celebrations, but beneath the aspirational rhetoric lies a raft of rarely acknowledged realities, making the bid for an under-developed Country like Nigeria. In the short to medium term, all but impossible unless an almost monumental transformation takes place as soon as ‘yesterday’.
Why Hosting F1 in Abuja Is Unrealistic — A Perspective Review
Hosting an F1 race requires a FIA Grade 1 circuit; this means a permanent track at least 3.5–7 km long, 12 m wide throughout (widening to 15 m at the grid) as specified on the FIA website.
A full pit‑lane infrastructure, run‑off zones, gravel traps or TecPro barriers, drainage, 5G Wi‑Fi, medical centers, and more. At the moment, Nigeria has no facility anywhere close.
The closest in the country is in Kano the Kano Speedway Park but the track faces swamp‑foundation challenges and substandard surfaces.
For context according to SABC, Kyalami in South Africa would require at least $10m-$12m in upgrades just to meet Grade 1, yet Nigeria has zero existing circuits anywhere near that standard.
The next solution is to build a modern F1 circuit but that, can cost hundreds of millions of dollars. In a research by reputable motorsport newspaper, Biz of Speed, Bahrain’s 2004 circuit cost USD 150 M, while Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina is reported to have exceeded USD 1 billion.
After all of that, as it has been with other nations, the host nation of a grand prix would also need to pay recurring annual hosting fees estimated between $20–$60 million per race, likely negotiated upward over time.
As things stand, another major question to be asked if the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport in Nigeria can accommodate up to 20 cargo airplanes that would transport in the equipment and gears for a race inclusive of the vehicles as well as engineering parts for these constructors on the F1 grid. This is aside the numerous air traffic of spectators that would be expecetd in the country;s capital. That means, renovation of the Abuja Airport would be expected.
Add operational costs (security, logistics, airport expansion, media, hospitality), and the public‑sector outlay for one Nigerian Grand Prix could easily exceed $300–$500 million per year, with upfront capital of $ 500–$800 million or more.
Despite pockets of interest (karting schools, university clubs), motorsport remains marginal in Nigerian public life.
The Automobile & Touring Club of Nigeria (ATCN), founded in 2009, focuses on grassroots karting and road safety awareness, but no national race series or mainstream spectator engagement exists. Few races exist within the Country, but not up to a F1 standard, not even go-karting.
Another major concern of Abuja hosting is the lack of necessary road networks, high‑quality hotels, large convention spaces, fan zones, and concert facilities required for an F1 weekend with an average of 125,000 spectators per day, 5,000 personnel, and after‑race entertainment.
5G connectivity, reliable power, clean water, proper drainage, and medical trauma centres must be guaranteed on site, even Abuja still struggle to deliver basic services.
We should also not forget F1 currently runs a 24‑race calendar, with only a few future spots available. Even bids like Thailand’s Bangkok street race are backed by $1.2 billion government funding and are targeting a debut by 2028.
In Africa, South Africa and Rwanda remain in the competition with stronger motorsport histories (Kyalami) or supportive African motorsport communities. Domenicali himself cautioned that “short‑term outcome” is unlikely.
*What Must Nigeria Do to Become F1‑Ready
Nothing is ever impossible to achieve, even if it may take years until the goal is achieved. For Nigeria to host an F1 Grand Prix, a few things needs to be put into consideration.
One is to Build Motorsport Culture through Grassroots Motorsports within five years. Partnering with ATCN and educational institutions to ramp up karting programmes in schools and clubs, leveraging existing development programmes
Also, encouraging sim‑racing hubs across universities to build interest affordably and safely, this spurs interest. Afterwards, the development of local rally and superbike championships (more feasible), will build regional appeal and media coverage. This in the long run will create a national fan base, identify young talent, build motorsport credentials in the country.
The next phase will be to construct a Grade‑2 or Grade‑1 Circuit in Stages which may take 5–10 years. To do this, a suitable site will need to be identified with stable terrain, land access, road links. This will require geotechnical studies for buildability ( so as to avoid swampy ground like Kano Speedway faces).
According to the Guardian, a world‑class firm, Tilke Engineers, already invited may be contracted to design a modular circuit in stages in which stage one should be Grade‑2 track for F2, F3, endurance, regional events.
Stage two an expansion to Grade‑1, meeting FIA’s minimum width, run‑offs, pit garage, medical centre, barriers, safety systems, pit lane, etc..
To achieve this, the Sport Commission will need to build Institutional and Financial Framework which may take 5–10 years. To easily achieve this dream, there is need to create an independent F1 Hosting Authority or consortium involving government, private sector, and international sporting bodies.
The consortium will be tasked with securing multi‑year financing: public–private partnerships, infrastructure bonds, sponsorships, and international development agencies.
The consortium may also assist with economic feasibility studies to aid about realistic visitor numbers, ticket pricing, ROI sensitivity, environmental assessments, and governance measures.
The fourth step will be to hold Soft Events, Test Races & FIA Engagement. This can be achieved in 7–10 years. To do this, Nigeria will consider hosting preliminary international series like the FIA endurance races, regional F3 championships, international karting festivals, fan parks. These events will allow the invitation of FIA inspectors for pre‑approval audits earl and suggestions on upgrading circuit in phases based on feedback.
Nigeria also needs to consider carbon‑neutral planning and net‑zero pathway in line with 2030 goals of F1 as attentio of the sport energy concerns shifts to solar and green energy.
The last step to achieving this will be a bid Submission for F1 Calendar which realistaicallly may be in the next 10 years; 2035.
Once a circuit achieves Grade‑1 license, fan engagement is proven, infrastructure robust, finances stable, Nigeria can formally bid for a slot in the F1 calendar, aiming for one of the rotating slots from 2035 onward.
Before , the Country can host other global motorsport events in the interim (e.g., Formula E, MotoGP test events, AMA, etc.) to build track record.
Nigeria as a country possesses enormous ambition, economic potential, and a demographic that could one day turn motorsport into a national passion. But the statement issued by Shehu Dikko, while inspiring, is premature given the current lack of facilities, motorsport culture, infrastructure, and transparent funding mechanisms
Only a sustained, multi‑stakeholder investment in grassroots motorsport, phased circuit development, rigid governance, and infrastructure can make an Abuja Grand Prix become a reality over the next 10 to 15 years.
