IMO BREAKING NEWS BLOG

By Kennedy Onwunali 

With the countdown to the second edition of the Niger Delta Games underway, Imo State has stepped up preparations, commencing closed camping for its contingent ahead of the February 20–27, 2026 competition in Edo State.

A total of 270 athletes and 46 coaches, drawn from 16 sports associations, have settled into camp at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, where technical and tactical drills have begun in earnest.

Separately, the state’s swimming team has already taken camp in Asaba, where they are undergoing specialised sessions aimed at sharpening endurance and competitive edge before joining the rest of the contingent for the Games.

The Commissioner for Sports and Chairman of the State Liaison Committee, Hon. Obinna Onyeocha, while addressing the athletes, described the camping programme as a strategic move to boost fitness, discipline and team bonding.

He reiterated the state government’s commitment to the welfare of the athletes, assuring them of adequate support throughout the competition. According to him, the administration of Governor Hope Uzodimma is determined to reward excellence and celebrate podium finishes.

On his part, Onyeocha promised personal recognition for gold medallists, noting that the team would remain in camp from February 17 to 18 before departing for Edo on February 19. He added that necessary logistics had been provided in line with competition regulations.

The Games, sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission and organised by Dunamis-Icon Limited under the theme, “Beyond Oil: Harnessing Talents,” are expected to showcase emerging sporting talents from across the Niger Delta region 

Bayelsa and Delta States took turns to receive the Niger Delta Games Torch on Monday with the Managing Director of Dunamis-Icon Limited and Lead Consultant for the Niger Delta Games, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo declaring that all is in place for Edo state to host the 2nd Niger Delta Games.

"I'm confident to say that Edo is 98% ready, the facilities that needed upgrade has been worked on to the required standard in conjunction with our sponsors, the NDDC.

"The hostels are ready, the facilities are ready, we are just waiting for the athletes to arrive", Ikpokpo told Journalists.

He again spoke on efforts and guidelines put in place to curb the poaching of athletes by participating states.

"The essence of the games is not necessarily to win, but to discover and harness talents that can represent the Niger Delta region and our country, Nigeria. 

"We have done so much to ensure states don't poach athletes and that the athletes are within the stipulated age bracket. We also want a situation where athletes competing are representatives of those states", he stated.

On the state of facilities for the Games, he affirmed that they were ready and urged participating states to strictly adhere to the rules of the games.

The Unity Torch was subsequently handed over to Nigeria’s former swimming star, Blessing Forcados, for onward transmission to Ondo State.

In Bayelsa, Governor Duoyo Diri, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali, praised the games organisers and sponsors for the initiative.

Receiving the Torch at a ceremony which took place at the Samson Siasia Complex, the Governor described the games as having placed the Niger Delta region as the leader in sport development.

"Let me thank the Niger Delta Development Commission and Dunamis Icon Limited for initiating the Games. 

"With this initiative, they have placed the Niger Delta States ahead of every other region in the country. So, we commend them for this and we hope that they would even put up a bigger and better games this time", he stated.

The Lighting of the Festival Torch represents unity of all the States in the Niger Delta region. The goal of every sporting event is to unify participating States, athletes and officials. It is used to foster a spirit of friendship and compete in a fair competitive environment.

The 2nd edition of Niger Delta Games will formally open on Friday, February 20, while the Closing ceremony takes place on Thursday, February 26.

Pics.._Sir Itiako Ikpokpo addressing the Delta State Torch reception team in Asaba on Monday_ 

By- Alambo Datonye Fred 

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State will lead a cast of government officials to receive the festival torch for the 2nd Niger Delta Games.

The Festival Torch is expected to arrive in Yenagoa, the State capital on Saturday, February 14th, 2026.

Incidentally, the event coincides with the 6th Anniversary of the Governor since he took the mantle of leadership in the State on February 14th, 2020.

Governor Diri would be accompanied by the Commissioner for Sports, Daniel Igali and the Director of the State Sports Council, Andrew Aye to receive the torch on Saturday morning.

Chairman/CEO of Dunamis Icon Limited, project consultant of the Niger Delta Games Chief Itiako Ikpokpo is also expected to lead the organisers to the occasion.

Ikpokpo said the fiesta would further unite the people of the Niger Delta region and provide a platform for the discovery of future sporting stars from the area.

The 2nd edition of Niger Delta Games is expected to start on February 20, 2026, though arrival of the participating teams is February 19, 2026.

The Closing ceremony is due to hold on February 26.

The Games is the first regional sports festival in the country. 

It was the turn of Abia State to receive and parade the Niger Delta Games Torch on Thursday morning as one of the Games Ambassadors, Joseph Edidiong brought it in from Akwa Ibom.

Edidiong, a weight-lifter clad in the colourful Akwa Ibom tracksuit arrived Umuahia Township Stadium and was met by Hon. Nwaobilor Ananaba, the State Sports Commissioner and Chairman of the State Liaison Committee.

Ananaba, then led the procession to the Government House where they were received by the Governor, Alex Otti who was represented by the Secretary to the Abia State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Meribole and accompanied by Pastor Caleb Ajagba, the Chief of Staff at Government House.

Meribole said the state has made necessary preparations to draw a decent performance at the games starting in Benin, Edo State from February 20-27.

He charged the athletes to compete with courage and win fairly and congratulated the nine states of the region for being the first to have their own regional multi-sports competition. The SSG expressed the expectation that the region will extend its dominance in discovering and raising athletes for the country.

Meribole would go on to commend the leadership of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for accepting to sponsor the games as designed and implemented by Dunamis-Icon Limited.

On hand to witness and supervise the process was Fred Edoreh, the Project Director for the Games, who thanked the state for the reception accorded the Torch ceremony. 

According to the Torch Tour roaster, Imo State is next on the line to receive the Games symbol. 

At the end of a scheduled facilities tour of venues for the 2nd Niger Delta Games, Hon Desmond Amadin Enabulele, the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission applauded the organisers, Dunamis-Icon Limited and the sponsor, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the renewal of sporting facilities across Benin City.

Enabulele led some members of the Commission's management team on the tour that saw them visiting the Tennis courts, swimming pool and indoor sports hall at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, and the basketball and volleyball courts at Wire Road Sports Centre. 

The chairman expressed satisfaction with the level of renovation work already completed by the organisers of the Niger Delta Games, Dunamis Icon Ltd.

" The facility upgrade is 90 percent ready and we are very happy with what is on ground. The upgrade counts as one of numerous benefits of the Games being hosted by our state. The tennis court at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium and the indoor halls are fully ready. Work on the swimming pool is ongoing and at an advanced stage. We are ready ". Enabulele declared.

The Edo State Sports Commission boss also paid a visit to the state contingent for the Games and urged them to return an improved performance to their outing in Uyo. He counselled them to be disciplined and to focus on their training in order to achieve the target set for themselves.

He gave the charge on Tuesday, February 10,2026 when he officially declared Team Edo camp open and ready for the second Niger Delta Games in Benin.

Declaring the camping open for the host state athletes in the highbrow Governance Reservation Area of Benin, Enabulele told the athletes and coaches that the responsibility of Edo State to deliver and to set a new record of achievements rests on their shoulders. He assured them that the state government has done it's part by providing the resources to keep them in camp with top notch facilities and welfare.

"We are ready for the 2026 Niger Delta Games. Congratulations to you all here. Remember we have a lot of intelligent and brilliant people in our state. So for you to be selected for the task,you are already a winner. From now on you should know you are now state Ambassadors because you are representing Edo state.

"As we are in this camp, discipline must be our watchword. We have set target for ourselves and to achieve the goals,you must be disciplined. Without discipline and commitment it is difficult to achieve much as sports men and women.

"In this particular edition of the Niger Delta Games,we are not just participating or adding to the number of teams, but we are working towards hosting to win. We can do it if we are disciplined as host state." Enabulele said.

He challenged the athletes to improve on their performance in the first edition of the games in Uyo, reminding them that Edo State won the highest number of silver and bronze medals at the Uyo Games.

"We must be ready to change the narrative this time. In the last outing, we had the highest number of silver and bronze medals. So we must do better to convert those Silver and Bronze to gold," he urged them adding that the athletes should be ready to set new records for the state.

Head coach of the Basketball team, Victor Umoru responded on behalf of the contingent and commended the Commission for taking good care of the athletes and their coaches.

The camp was opened on Sunday, February 8 ahead the games starting on February 20 to 27. 

Games Torch for the 2nd Niger Delta Games began its journey to Benin, Edo State on Monday, February 9 in Calabar, Cross River State.

The Torch, which is the symbol of the Games will pass through the capitals of all nine participating states that make up the Niger Delta region.

In Calabar, the Torch bearer, Patience Okon George led some Sports Commission officials and athletes from the U.J Esuene Stadium to the Governor's office where they were officially received by the state's Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey and Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, the Chairman of Dunamis-Icon Limited, organisers of the games.

A colourful procession which included young men and women dressed in the famous Calabar Carnival costumes. They danced to local Efik tunes belted from loud speakers mounted on trucks.

Odey, who stood in for Governor Bassey Otu, assured the state athletes that they would be adequately provided with equipment and welfare support to excel at the games, charging them to compete fairly to win in all the sports.

Ikpokpo commended the State Liaison Committee members for organising an entertaining Torch Tour and encouraged other states to design their own unique tour event.

According to a roaster released by organisers of the games, Akwa Ibom State is the next stop for the Torch on February 10. It will then proceed to Abia on the 11th, Imo on 12th February, and Rivers State on February 13.

Bayelsa will host the Games Torch on February 14, while Delta State would receive it on February 16, from where it proceeds to Ondo on the 18th. 

The Games Torch would light the cauldron at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium to symbolise the start of the Games on the opening day and would on the last day, be handed over to the next host state.

The Niger Delta Games is organised by Dunamis-Icon Limited and sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).