Nigeria has joined the race to host the 2030 commonwealth games with the formal submission of its proposals to the IOC with the capital city, Abuja as the host city.

The future of the Games had become the subject of concern after South Africa’s Durban and Australia’s Victoria pulled out as nominated hosts for the 2022 and 2026 editions respectively both citing the huge cost of hosting.

Birmingham, UK stepped in to host the 2022 Games while Glasgow also in the picked up the hosting of the 2026 event.

This is the second time Abuja is bidding to host the Commonwealth Games. It lost its first attempt to Glasgow in 2014. No African city has ever staged the Games.

India, which is also bidding for the 2030 hosting, hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2010. It sees the 2030 Games as a dry run for a potential bid for the 2036 Olympic Games.