Joel Ajayi 

In a renewed effort to reposition shooting sports and expand its reach nationwide, the National Shooting Sports Federation of Nigeria (NSSF) has sought for a  strategic collaboration with the Nigerian Navy and other security institutions to develop the sport across the country’s six geopolitical zones.

As part of this initiative, the leadership of the NSSF paid a courtesy visit to the Naval Headquarters (NHQ) in Abuja, with discussions focused on structured development, wider participation and capacity building in shooting sports.

Speaking during the visit, the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of Nigeria is Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, who was represented by the Chief of Naval Administration, Rear Admiral J. N. Mamman, expressed confidence in the potential of shooting sports and commended the leadership of the Federation for its vision.

Rear Admiral Mamman emphasised that sports play a vital role in physical fitness and mental stability, especially for men and women in uniform who require a high level of alertness, discipline and emotional control.

He noted the overwhelming interest generated by the engagement, pointing out that representatives from various naval departments were in attendance, all eager to be part of the shooting sports community.

The Naval Chief encouraged the Federation to provide opportunities for corporate and institutional membership, noting that many personnel were willing to enroll and participate actively in training and competitions.

Earlier, the President of the National Shooting Sports Federation of Nigeria, Commodore Muhammed Shettima (rtd), reaffirmed the Federation’s commitment to working closely with the Nigerian Navy and other security and paramilitary agencies to strengthen shooting sports development nationwide.

According to him, the collaboration is aimed at creating synergy between the shooting sports community and the armed forces, whose professional training naturally aligns with the sport.

Commodore Shettima explained that shooting sports in Nigeria began in 1976 with the establishment of the Nigerian Shooting Association, which later evolved into the National Shooting Sports Federation of Nigeria in line with international best practices and the regulations of the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF).

He disclosed that the Federation’s board comprises representatives from the six geopolitical zones, athlete representatives, as well as a special representative for the armed forces and paramilitary agencies, reflecting the unique nature of the sport.

The NSSF president stated that the Federation is responsible for identifying, training and developing shooting sports enthusiasts across the country through structured programmes that meet international standards. These programmes involve licensed sporting weapons, including air weapons for competitive shooting and 12-gauge pump-action shotguns approved for hunting and sporting purposes in Nigeria.

“As the custodian of shooting sports in Nigeria, it has become necessary to recalibrate our operations by deepening engagement with the armed forces and paramilitary agencies, whose personnel already possess foundational shooting skills,” Shettima said.

He cited global examples, including military athletes from Türkiye who have successfully represented their country at the Olympic Games, noting that Nigeria could achieve similar success by integrating trained security personnel into competitive shooting sports.

Commodore Shettima added that the collaboration would also enhance the welfare of retired military personnel, as experienced firearms instructors and armoury experts could be engaged as coaches, instructors and technical officials within the Federation.

He expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded the Federation and described the visit as the beginning of a series of engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation, building capacity and taking shooting sports to all six geopolitical zones.

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