Joel Ajayi 

President of the Nigeria Shooting Sport Federation, NSSF, Commodore Mohammed Sagir Shettima, has announced plans by the Federation to host the maiden National Shooting Sport Tournament for Veterans and Wounded Soldiers.

He stated this when he led Board Members of the NSSF on a courtesy visit to Nigeria’s Minister of Defence,  General Christopher Gwabin Musa(Retired) at his office at the Federal Ministry of Defence, Abuja, on Thursday.

Commodore Shettima told the Defence Minister that the visit was aimed at congratulating him on his appointment as Defence Minister by Nigeria’s  President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, familiarize themselves and informing him on activities of the NSSF, and avenues to create productive partnerships.
“I am here with my Board Members to congratulate you on your appointment as Minister, introduce ourselves to you, and equally to highlight our vision and mission as the only arms-bearing Sports Federation under the National Sports Commission.
“Firstly, it’s how to improve the welfare of our members as well as retired, wounded or injured military personnel, how we can leverage on the expertise of these veterans to cascade shooting sport to the grassroots level, prioritize institutional identification to curtail arms proliferations, and partner with your Ministry to engage military veterans, wounded and or injured personnel as coaches, technical experts, referees, and judges, both for local and international shooting championships.
“But importantly, too, the NSSF is proposing to host a Veterans’ and Wounded Soldiers’ National Shooting Sport Tournament in your honour, which will be tagged “GENERAL C.G. MUSA NATIONAL PARA-SHOOTING TROPHY CHAMPIONSHIP”. 
“This championship is designed to acknowledge and appreciate the distinguished service of our veterans, wounded, and injured soldiers, and to also acknowledge your immense contributions, both as a former Chief of Defence Staff, and serving Minister of Defence, to Nigeria’s defence sector.
“This, we believe, will promote shooting sport among veterans and wounded or injured soldiers, promote camaraderie among military personnel, and raising awareness about the welfare of wounded and injured soldiers”, the NSSF President remarked.
He sought the support of the Minister and Defence Ministry to enable the NSSF access a twenty thousand-dollar equipment grant donated to the NSSF which has been thwarted through lengthy bureaucratic processes, procure more modern shooting equipment, renovate dilapidated shooting ranges across the country, specifically the Jaji Shooting Range and the National Shooting Range located at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, more inclusion of wounded and injured soldiers servicemen and women, both serving and retired, in the Invictus Games as Nigeria plans to host the 2029 edition, and facilitating the full inclusion of wounded and injured soldiers in the forthcoming 3rd National Para Games to be held in Abuja in March, 2026.
The Minister, in his response, thanked the delegation for the visit, and lauded the Federation’s initiatives, describing them as a fitting tribute to all servicemen and women, whether serving or retired, particularly the wounded, injured or sick.
He added that the initiatives would also be an added achievement to his service and commitment to national defence.
While emphasizing the importance of sports in promoting national unity and rehabilitation of wounded and injured soldiers, the Minister assured the NSSF delegation of his support, and promised to facilitate the necessary approvals and resources required for the successful hosting of the tournament.
*Eche Amos(Fellow, CBS)*,Director of Media and Communications,NSSF.
26/02/2026

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