Nigeria is open to host a Formula One race in the near future in a move that will have the African continent host the world’s premier car race for the first time in decades.
The last time an African country hosted a Formula One race was in 1993 when the South African Grand Prix was held at the Kyalami Midrand in the Transvaal Province but that could change soon.
Rwanda President Paul Kagame recently expressed interest in hosting a race in the country and the latest African nation to show interest in hosting a Formula One race is Nigeria with the country’s capital, Abuja, picked as the location.
According to National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko, “We are exploring all possibilities to bring Formula 1 to Nigeria as soon as practicable — not just as a sporting event, but as a catalytic driver of tourism, infrastructure development, youth engagement, and economic growth.”
“This vision aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE), which seeks to reset, refocus, and relaunch the sector to unlock foreign investment, boost exports, and increase GDP contribution.”
Oscar Piastri of McLaren leads the 2025 Formula One standings.
