Dr Adesoji Tayo, President of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), has appealed to the federal government to grant sports federations concessions to bring in their equipment duty-free, as part of efforts to boost sports development. He noted that many federations have equipment stuck at ports due to lack of funds for clearance.
High Clearance Costs Impede Training
Speaking at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, where the NTTF hosted the 2026 WTT Contender Lagos, Tayo said the high cost of clearing imported sports equipment denies Nigerian athletes the chance to train with world-class gear, affecting their performance in international competitions.
“Most of the equipment we use in table tennis is imported from China or Germany. This includes the floor, table tennis boards, surrounds, communication equipment, umpire chairs and tables, and lights. Also, the national team kits, t-shirts, polos, winter jackets, shoes, and socks,” Tayo explained.
“When they arrive at the ports, we pay for everything, including clearing. Even when we show they are sports equipment meant for Nigeria, with 'Nigeria' written on them, we are forced to pay huge fees.”
Appeal to Federal Government
Tayo implored the federal government to allow sports equipment to enter without exorbitant charges. “If some people have been kind enough to purchase equipment for Nigeria, why must we find money to clear them? It is demoralising and unacceptable,” he said.
Using the WTT Contender Lagos as an example, Tayo revealed: “We paid to bring the surround gifted by the ITTF to this venue. The umpire table and chair were also donations. Yet, we have equipment at the ports for almost a year now. We hoped the National Sports Commission (NSC) could help, but we have been unsuccessful.”
He added that table tennis equipment is fragile, and after a year at the ports, its condition is uncertain. “A single competition table costs about N6 million, and for WTT we use 16. Hosting such championships involves many costly items, so we have a lot of money tied up at the ports.”
Financial Burden on Federations
The NTTF president disclosed that the federation paid N30 million to clear the floor used at the WTT Contender Lagos. He stressed that top facilities are why Nigeria is one of only two African countries hosting the WTT Series. “Without this floor, no player would come to Nigeria from anywhere,” he said.
Tayo urged the government to allow federations to import sports equipment without customs fees, especially when items are gifts from foreign bodies or individuals. “It would be demoralising to tell a donor that we cannot clear their gift due to high fees. The government must work with us to bring in these items.”
“We have immense talent in Nigeria, but we cannot elevate them to elite players without proper equipment. That is why we need the federal government’s help,” he concluded.
