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‎Bayelsa State was the surprise winner of top position on the medals table at the inaugural edition of the Niger Delta Games in Uyo, edging Delta State by an odd gold medal on the last day of competitions.

The state finished top with 46 gold, 29 silver and 15 bronze medals, a total 86 medals, and some of the athletes preparing to represent the state at the 2nd edition in Benin, Edo State have expressed confidence to successfully retain the pole position.

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In separate ‎interviews at their camp in Yenagoa, the state capital, some of the athletes spoke shortly after training, and didn't mince words in expressing their determination to dominate at the Games holding from February 20-27.

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One of those who spoke is wrestler, Emmanuel Okike, and he was adamant that the goal of Team Bayelsa is to retain the first position on medals count at the Niger Delta Games. Okike pegged his claims on the level and quality of preparations they have been undergoing, citing the wrestling team's drills.

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‎"I am very happy to be part of the Niger Delta Games, we have been doing well in all the competitions we have attended so far such that I can confidently say that Bayelsa has gone beyond participation to winning tournaments", Okike declared while trying to catch his breath after a bout with another team mate.

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Echoing the same sentiment is a 61kg freestyle wrestler, Ebiere Frank, who insisted that Team Bayelsa is going to Benin to affirm its dominance in wrestling. He pointed out that the State would use the games as preparatory championship for other competitions slated for later in the year.

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Like Okike, Ebiere commended the foresight of the Games originator, Dunamis-Icon Limited and the leadership of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for their partnership that birthed the games for youths. Ebiere is of the firm conviction that the region stands to benefit from the continuous staging of the games in the area of discovery of talented sportsmen and women.

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‎Gonibo Jessica, a basketball player, asserted that Team Bayelsa would return with the gold medal in basketball, stating that the competition has become a stepping stone for young athletes to excel at national and international sporting events. 

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While describing the games as a laudable initiative, urged the Commission to sustain their sponsorship of the competition which has become a launch pad to the development of sports at the grassroots.

As per the rules of the games, Bayelsa State would be fielding male and female athletes in all the 16 sports events.

Photos:

1. Gonibo Jessica

2. Emmanuel Okike

3. Ebiere Frank 

Organisers of the Niger Delta Games say the competition will continue to be an integral part of the sporting calendar of the National Sports Commission for the overall objective to change the trajectory of Grassroots sports development in Nigeria.

This is according to Mr Malik Ikpokpo, chairman of Dunamis Icon , organisers of the Niger Delta Games during a courtesy visit to the Director General of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade.

Mr Ikpokpo said his visit to the NSC is to formally brief the Director General on the preparations towards the successful staging of the games this year in Edo state.

He stated that the successful organisation of the first edition of the games last year in Akwa Ibom state was largely due to the strategic support of the NSC under the leadership of Mallam Shehu and Hon Bukola Olopade.

” We are very excited at the Niger Delta games that we have a very cordial relationship with the NSC and they have been very supportive in providing us with every form of technical and logistic assistance.

” This is why I am here to let the DG know our level of preparation as regards what our sponsor, NDDC are doing and how far we have gone with our host, Edo state, in their readiness to welcome the entire nine Niger Delta states”.

He added that the Niger Delta Games is not just another competition but a sustainable breeding ground to discover and nurture Nigeria’s future talents.

” The Niger Delta games align perfectly with the new vision of the NSC to have a vibrant and sustainable sports economy that works through organisation of regular domestic competitions of international standard”, he concluded.

The 2026 Niger Delta games is scheduled to hold from February 20th to 26th in Edo state. 

Imo State is wearing a new glow of confidence and optimism as it prepares for the 2nd edition of the Niger Delta Games. Across the state, the atmosphere is charged with excitement, unity, and renewed belief in the power of sports to inspire, heal, and transform communities. From grassroots athletes to seasoned administrators, there is a shared determination to showcase Imo State as a hub of talent, discipline, and sporting excellence.

The government’s sustained investment in sports infrastructure and youth development has begun to yield visible results. Training facilities are being upgraded, athletes are better motivated, and technical crews are working tirelessly to ensure a smooth and memorable outing. Beyond competition, the Niger Delta Games represent a platform for cultural exchange, regional unity, and the discovery of future champions who will carry the nation’s colours with pride.

For Imo State, this edition is more than a sporting event; it is a statement of readiness and ambition. It reflects a people eager to compete with honour, embrace teamwork, and project a positive image of resilience and progress. As the countdown continues, Imo State stands upbeat and prepared, ready to make a strong impression and reaffirm its place as a leading force in sports development within the Niger Delta and beyond. 

Some athletes from Rivers State have spoken excitedly about opportunities and potentials for a brighter future ingerent in the Niger Delta Games (NDG)

Some of these athletes who will participate in athletics, basketball, table tennis and others have taken to their social media accounts promoting the games and speaking of their expectations.

ThecRivers State basketball players, seen training for the second edition of the NDG coming up in Benin, Edo State, said they are excited at the prospect of defending the gold medal won in the event at the last edition of the NDG in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. 

At the Basketball Court on Niger/ Bende Streets in Port Harcourt township, the players said they have been training hard to ensure that they defend their title.

Dalhati Wealth expressed confidence that his team will emerge victorious as they are learning new techniques and tactics to ensure victory.

“As you can see every player is putting in good effort to be mentally and physically fit, including learning new tactics to be ready and maintain the level that saw us go all the way at the last Games.

”We started our preparation early because we want to achieve success at the end of the day. You know that if you don’t train and do not prepare early, you can’t perform when the chips are down “, Wealth said.

He used the opportunity to commend the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC) for initiating the sports programme with the vision to develop, empower and provide and enduring platform for youths in the region.

”This competition will no doubt discover talents in the region, and it will equally expose us to both local and foreign scouts because you can never tell.

“You know we only have one Youth Games every year but this has added to the calendar towards sports development and the engagement of young people, especially, at the grassroots level” he stated.

A very young looking Kelvin Harrison was seen in a promotional social media post boasting that his team would win gold for Rivers State.

"Hello Rivers people, my name is Kelvin Harrison, a handballer for Rivers State. I'll be joining over 3000 other athletes participating in the 2nd Niger Delta Games in Benin, Edo State from February 20-27. I am so excited and can't wait to be there. See you there as I go for gold", Harrison said in the viral video.

Ebenezer Obas, added drama and fun when he rallied other basketball players on their training ground to add a psychological war dimension in a video. After introducing himself and speaking of their determination to retain the gold medal from the last edition, he invited others who stood behind him as they chorused "let's go Rivers" as they broke into an opponent daring chant.

Also speaking, another athlete, Hector Tobogu

also commended NDDC for the initiative, saying that the tournament has discovered hidden talents in the area.

“This competition has helped many youths develop interest in different sporting activities and is another way to showcase talents. As an athlete if you don’t compete in tournaments or competitions, you will not know your strength and improvement would be very difficult”, Tobogu said.

Pictures: Ebenezer Obas and his team mates 

About 3,000 athletes and officials from nine oil-producing states are expected in Edo State for the second edition of the Niger Delta Games, scheduled to hold from February 20th – 27th, 2026.

The multi-sport event, sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), will feature 17 sports. These include football, basketball, boxing, badminton, among others. The event will also feature a cultural night designed to showcase the region’s rich heritage.

The organiser of the event, Itiako Ikpokpo, told sports journalists in the State capital, Benin City, that the games were strictly designed for young talents.

Ikpokpo said participating athletes must be indigenous to the competing states and must not exceed 20 years of age.

According to him, meaningful sports development must begin at the grassroots, as the local government level is the true foundation for talent discovery.

“We must go back to school sports to discover more young talents for the country,” he said.

Ikpokpo, however, decried the poor commitment of state governments to sports development.

He said low budgetary allocations for sports across states had continued to undermine growth in the sector, while weak administration had prevented sports from becoming a viable economic venture.

“There is a need to elevate the conversation on sports in this country,” he added. “The reason sports has not become a money spinner is the way it is being managed by administrators.”

Ikpokpo also condemned the prevalence of age cheating in sports, describing it as “shameful” and called for collective action to end the practice.

He further urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to look beyond Uyo for the hosting of international matches, arguing that the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City meets global standards.

“Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium is as good as the Uyo Stadium and should be considered for international fixtures,” he said. 

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Joint Task Force North East, have recorded another major success in the ongoing counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in Borno State, rescuing 86 kidnap victims and arresting 29 others over the supply of logistics to the criminals. The Media Information Officer of the Joint Task Force North East, Operation Hadin Kai, Lieutenant Colonel Sani Uba, confirmed this in a statement.

Uba said troops of the 135 Special Forces Battalion, under Sector 2 OPHK, on 9 November 2025, encountered Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists at Dutse Kura after discovering that terrorists were abducting civilians and vehicles along the Buratai–Kamuya Road. “The troops thwarted the attack, pursued the terrorists towards Mangari, and overpowered them in a follow-up encounter near a camp, forcing the insurgents to flee in disarray. A search of the area led to the discovery of 11 makeshift terrorist structures and the rescue of 86 kidnapped victims, comprising men, women, and children,” he said in a statement.

Some of the items recovered from the criminals include one AK-47 rifle, five magazines with 73 rounds, four PKT ammunition belts, five civilian vehicles, five motorcycles, eight bicycles, and two logistics tricycles. The terrorists’ camp was destroyed in situ after clearance operations. Meanwhile, troops deployed at Mangada arrested 29 terrorist logistics suppliers en route to Chilaria with several items. The troops recovered items such as two pickup vans and a tricycle loaded with Premium Motor Spirit, approximately 1,000 litres of petrol in jerricans, four gallons of engine oil, two new gun truck tyres, a substantial cache of medical supplies, and large quantities of foodstuffs and provisions from them.

“All operations were conducted successfully with no casualties on the part of our troops. The Military High Command commended the gallantry and professionalism of the troops while charging Operation HADIN KAI to sustain operations to deny terrorists freedom of action across the North East theatre,” the statement read.