Nigeria’s garden city, Port Harcourt, which is also the Rivers State capital, is set to host the 11th edition of the Chief of Naval Staff National Swimming Championship.

President of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF), Chinonye Aliyu said the championship is set to take centre stage from Wednesday, January 31 through Sunday, February 4, 2024, at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Sports Complex, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Chief of Naval Staff National Swimming Championship, which is organized in collaboration with the Nigeria Aquatics Federation, is an annual event focused on scooping out talents for future competitions.

The first edition of the championship was held in Benin, Edo state in 2000 with 13 participating teams.

Aliyu said this year’s edition will serve as a platform to select the best swimmer ahead of the All Africa and Olympic Games billed for this year, stating that over 200 athletes are expected to participate in the tournament.

In his remarks, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, who was represented by Navy Captain Stanley Umeh, said he is convinced that the championship would boost integration in this sector of Sports and facilitate the discovery of fresh swimming talents in Nigeria.  

The opening ceremony, according to the Secretary of the Nigeria Aquatics Federation, Joel Akinluwa, would be on Thursday, February 1, 2024, at the Swimming Section of the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Center, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.

The last edition of the competition took place at the ultra-modern swimming complex of the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba, Delta State, with the Nigeria Police Force emerging victorious.