By Arinzechi Chukwunonso
The Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), in partnership with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has officially flagged off the first phase of the 2026 National Premier Volleyball League in Abuja, unveiling a ₦26 million funding package for participating teams and players while reaffirming its commitment to youth development through sports.
The competition, taking place at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, brings together the country’s top men’s and women’s volleyball clubs and also serves as a nationwide talent identification platform aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s future national teams.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on Monday, the Sports Secretary of the Nigeria Customs Service, Samuel Onikeku, said the Service’s continued investment in sports reflects its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda and its determination to engage young Nigerians positively.
“The CGC is committed to ensuring that young people are meaningfully engaged so they can contribute positively to national development. That is why the Nigeria Customs Service continues to invest in sports development,” Onikeku said.
He added that the Customs Service has expanded its CSR initiatives beyond sports to include education and other developmental programmes, while its collaboration with the NVBF continues to elevate volleyball in Nigeria.
According to Onikeku, the partnership has significantly contributed to the sport’s growth and will further enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness on the African stage.
He also highlighted the international exposure enjoyed by Customs teams, revealing that the women’s side recently competed in Ghana while the men participated in tournaments in Cairo and Kigali.
“Thankfully, the CGC and his management supported our teams to compete in Ghana for the women, and in Cairo and Kigali for the men. These experiences have motivated the players significantly,” he said.
Onikeku noted that the women’s team enters the new campaign as defending champions after completing last season unbeaten.
“The female team won the league last year unbeaten. Naturally, every team now wants to challenge them, but we are prepared,” he stated.
Also addressing journalists, NVBF 2nd Vice President and Chairman of the League Management Committee, Architect Adamu Adamu (Tenimu), praised the Nigeria Customs Service for its unwavering support and described the Premier League as the pinnacle of domestic volleyball in the country.
“First and foremost, I want to thank the Comptroller-General of Customs for giving us the opportunity to stage this league again.
“The Premier League is the prime of all our leagues and it is where we display the quality of volleyball we have in the country,” he said.
Adamu noted that the competition provides a stage for both home-based and internationally exposed players to showcase their abilities while offering emerging talents opportunities to break into the national teams.
“From the first matches we have seen, the promoted teams are already giving the existing Premier League teams a very tough time.
“That shows the level of improvement we have achieved over the years. This is going to be a very competitive league and fans will discover many new players with great potential to play for the national team,” he added.
He acknowledged the financial pressures involved in organizing multiple competitions but maintained that the federation remains committed to its development agenda.
“The year has been very tough for us because funding sports in the country is not easy. However, we see these challenges as opportunities to overcome.
“We have just concluded the Division One and Division Two leagues and now we are staging the Premier League. After this, we will focus on hosting an international beach volleyball competition in Badagry in July,” he said.
Adamu also stressed that the league remains the country’s foremost platform for showcasing volleyball excellence and helping selectors identify future national team players.
Chairman of the Control Committee, Stephen Aso, said the standard of competition has risen significantly, making matches increasingly difficult to predict.
“The teams here are ready to win. There are no easy matches anymore. Most games now end 3-1 or 3-2, which shows how competitive the league has become,” Aso said.
He commended the Nigeria Customs Service for supporting the championship over the past three editions and disclosed that the federation is actively pursuing additional corporate sponsorships and strategic partnerships to sustain the sport’s growth.
The 2026 edition marks another milestone under the leadership of NVBF President Musa Nimrod, whose administration has consistently organized national league competitions as part of its long-term vision to strengthen domestic volleyball, develop talent, and raise the standard of the game across Nigeria.
