The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adeniyi, has pledged support for Nigeria’s beach volleyball players, Pamela Bawa and Esther Mbah, as they begin preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Adeniyi gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja, when he received the duo, who made history by securing Nigeria’s first-ever Olympic qualification in beach volleyball at the 2026 African Beach Volleyball Nations Championship in Alexandria, Egypt.
Bawa and Mbah clinched the gold medal at the continental championship to book Nigeria’s historic ticket to the 2028 Olympics.
The customs boss described their achievement as proof that discipline, proper motivation and sustained investment in sports could produce exceptional results.
He urged the players to preserve the determination that earned them Olympic qualification, while setting their sights on dominating the African scene and challenging the world’s best at the Games.
“You have shown that it is possible. You beat two African teams to qualify. You have shown that it is possible in big competitions,” Adeniyi said.
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He stressed the need for strategic planning and improved preparation to help Nigeria challenge the dominance of North African, Arab and East African teams in continental beach volleyball.
“With better coordination, better planning and the most strategic approach, I am sure within the next two years we can break that dominance,” he added.
He commended both players for maximising the opportunities available to them and for rewarding the investment made in their development with a historic Olympic qualification.
The customs boss, who said he watched some of their matches in Alexandria, particularly praised their victories over hosts Egypt in the semi-final and Morocco in the final.
He urged the players to take the same level of determination, preparation and hunger for success to Los Angeles.
Adeniyi said preparations for the Games must begin immediately, adding that the customs would work with the team’s officials to organise exposure tours and high-level matches against strong international opponents.
He also disclosed plans to study top-performing Olympic beach volleyball teams to identify areas where the Nigerian duo could improve and close the gap before the Games.
Adeniyi cautioned the players against treating their qualification as an achievement in itself, insisting that they must use their continental success as a springboard to compete for honours on the global stage.
“You are going there as African champions and you must be the best that Africa has in that particular competition,” he said.
He further pledged continued support for the players’ welfare and training needs, assuring them that the necessary conditions would be provided to enable them prepare adequately for the Olympics.
The qualification of Bawa and Mbah represents a landmark moment for Nigerian volleyball, as the duo secured the country’s first-ever Olympic ticket in beach volleyball and paved the way for Nigeria’s debut in the event at the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
