Africa's Formula 1 race heats up as Nigeria joins South Africa and Rwanda in bid to end 33-year wait

After more than three decades off the Formula 1 calendar, Africa's bid to host its first Grand Prix since 1993 is gaining momentum, with Nigeria joining South Africa and Rwanda in the race.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has confirmed that Nigeria submitted an official bid to stage a Formula 1 Grand Prix in Abuja, joining South Africa and Rwanda in the race to host the sport's first African event since the 1993 South African Grand Prix at Kyalami.

Nigeria has appointed Opus Racing Promotions as its representative to engage with Formula One Management (FOM) and the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), with officials describing the proposed Abuja race as part of a project reportedly worth about $500 million.

If successful, Nigeria would become the first West African nation to host a Formula 1 World Championship race.

The bid comes as Formula 1 continues expanding into new markets, with host countries increasingly viewing Grands Prix as catalysts for tourism, foreign investment and infrastructure development.