SPORTS ARBITRATION IN NIGERIA: CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS

Abstract

Sports arbitration has emerged as an important mechanism for resolving disputes arising from professional sports. The increasing commercialisation of sports and Nigeria’s participation in international sporting competitions have intensified the need for an effective, independent and accessible dispute resolution system. This paper examined the conceptual foundations of sports arbitration, its theoretical underpinnings, the applicable legal and institutional frameworks in Nigeria, existing literature, and the principal challenges affecting its effectiveness. The study adopted a doctrinal research methodology, relying on legislation, judicial decisions, sporting regulations, international instruments, and relevant scholarly publications. The findings indicated that although Nigeria possesses a general statutory framework for arbitration and several sports-specific dispute resolution mechanisms, the absence of a comprehensive and adequately coordinated national sports arbitration framework creates uncertainty concerning jurisdiction, independence, procedural fairness, and enforcement. Other challenges include inadequate public awareness, financial constraints, institutional fragmentation, delays, and other challenges in Nigerian sports arbitration. It recommended the establishment of a specialised national sports dispute resolution institution in Nigeria, among others.