The Nigeria Customs Service has lifted its support for athletes with a new welfare package of N500,000 for players in the CGC Volleyball League. The announcement was delivered in Abuja by the Customs Sports Secretary, Samuel Onikeku, on behalf of the Comptroller-General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. The adjustment signals a growing commitment to national sports and comes as the 2025 league begins at Package B of the MKO Abiola National Stadium.
Onikeku thanked the Nigeria Volleyball Federation for its steady backing of athletes and explained that Customs has placed players at the centre of its programme, noting that seventy percent of last season’s sports budget went directly to athletes. He highlighted the improved team subsidy, which has risen from N300,000 to N500,000. During the first phase of the league, Customs disbursed N24 million, shared evenly between players and teams, with the same amount expected for the closing phase, bringing the season’s total to N48 million.
The Comptroller-General, through his representative, reaffirmed Customs’ involvement in other sports such as boxing and football, stressing that volleyball remains a key area of interest. The Nigeria Volleyball Federation’s second Vice President, Arc. Adamu Tanimu, speaking for the Federation President, said they are not pursuing new sponsorships for now. He explained that Customs has shown no sign of strain in its support and continues to carry the full weight of the league’s funding.
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Tanimu described Customs as a dependable partner and noted that their long-standing role as the league’s sole sponsor would remain unchanged until the organisation indicates otherwise.
This season will feature an upgraded prize structure. The former N3 million, N2 million, and N1 million format has been replaced with N5 million for the champions, N3 million for the runners-up, and N2 million for the third-place team. Onikeku suggested that prize money could rise again before the final whistle of the tournament.
A new honour, the Most Disciplined Team award, will join the list of recognitions for both men and women, alongside the Most Valuable Player. The indoor hall at the stadium has already filled with spectators as the league opens today at 2 pm. Matches will continue until December 13 or 14, marking the close of a season that promises intense competition and wider visibility for Nigerian volleyball.
