Tinubu highlights historic speed in fulfilling D’Tigress rewards

President Bola Tinubu has described the completion of cash rewards for D’Tigress, Nigeria’s senior women’s basketball team, as the first time a Federal Government has fulfilled a presidential sporting reward package in full within one year.

The President stated this in a statement issued via his X handle on Thursday, after the National Sports Commission confirmed that all outstanding cash components owed to the five-time African champions had been paid.

“Today, the rewards I promised our D’Tigress have been fully redeemed. Each player has received the naira equivalent of $100,000, while each official has received the equivalent of $50,000, completing their package of cash rewards, national honours and three-bedroom homes in Abuja.

“For the first time, a Federal Government has fulfilled this scale of presidential sporting rewards in full within one year,” Tinubu said.

The President said the delay between the pledge and the final payments was due to due process, not a lack of commitment.

“We had to follow the processes required by law and ensure that every commitment was properly implemented. That took time, but a promise made must be a promise kept,” he said.

Tinubu’s claim comes against the backdrop of a long history of unfulfilled or delayed presidential sports pledges in Nigeria.

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The President also used the statement to update Nigerians on the status of rewards owed to the Super Falcons and Super Eagles.

He said the Super Falcons, who won their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in Morocco earlier this year, had already received their house allocation documents and national honours certificates, and their cash rewards were being concluded.

“The promise of houses and national honours I made to Super Eagles players has since been redeemed,” he added, referring to the men’s national football team.

Tinubu framed the gesture as part of a broader philosophy on how the country should treat its athletes.

“Our athletes who bring honour to Nigeria deserve more than applause. They deserve a country that keeps its word,” he said.

“My promise to every Nigerian athlete is: make Nigeria proud, and come back to a grateful nation.”

D’Tigress won a record fifth consecutive FIBA Women’s Afrobasket title and seventh overall in 2025.