Kaduna State has indicated an interest in hosting the 21st edition of the National Sports Festival in 2022.

The Kaduna State Sports Ministry outlined its plans to host Nigeria’s version of the Olympics in a brochure on Tuesday, with governor Nasir El Rufai giving his support.

Kaduna has previously hosted the biennial event twice in the past, most recently in 2009 after hosting the third edition of the National Sports Festival in 1977.

“We have already commenced upgrading the facilities used in 2016 to meet contemporary standards,” the governor said per the brochure.

“I hereby seize this unique opportunity to reaffirm our willingness and readiness to host the biennial event and plead the Council of Sports’ approval of Kaduna State as hosts of the 2022 National Sports Festival.”

According to the brochure, proposed venues for the multi-sport event include Kaduna Club, Murtala Square, Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna Township Stadium, Kaduna State University, Nigeria Defence Academy, Police College, and the Kaduna Polytechnic.

In addition to the proposed sites, the state added that seven new stadiums are currently being constructed in Zaria, Kafanchan, Kachia, Lere, Birnin Gwari and Saminaka.

The 20th edition of the Sports Festival is currently underway in Edo and will come to a close on 14 April.