The House of Representatives on Wednesday resolved that veteran Nigerian boxer, Bash Ali, should pursue private funding for his long-standing Guinness World Record boxing championship ambition, while relevant government agencies are to provide regulatory and logistical support within their official mandates.

The decision followed the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Public Petitions, chaired by Mr Kwamoti Bitrus, after reviewing a petition filed by the former cruiserweight champion against the National Sports Commission.

Bash Ali, who is seeking to become the oldest boxer in history to compete in a professional championship bout, has spent over two decades pushing for the staging of the proposed Guinness World Record fight in Nigeria.

During presentation of the committee’s report, Bitrus said the petitioner alleged sabotage and administrative hurdles from officials of the National Sports Commission, which he claimed had delayed the project.

After reviewing the petition, the committee recommended that the boxing project be executed strictly as a privately funded initiative in line with existing regulatory requirements for sporting events in the country.

The House adopted the recommendation, stating that the initiative must remain privately financed while complying with all relevant rules governing sports administration in Nigeria.

Lawmakers also directed the National Sports Commission to ensure fairness and transparency in handling approvals and related processes for the proposed championship.

They further urged the commission to provide a non-discriminatory regulatory environment, including timely processing of approvals, access to facilities on standard terms, and coordination with security and logistics agencies.

In addition, the House said government institutions may offer non-financial assistance such as security support, protocol coordination, and international liaison where necessary, but without any financial obligation on the government.

Lawmakers also called on the Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Commission to clearly define the limits of government involvement in privately organised international sporting events to prevent future disputes.

Bash Ali, now 70, has pursued the Guinness World Record boxing project since the tenure of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, consistently insisting on Nigeria as the host nation for the bout.

The resolution represents a renewed pathway for the long-delayed project, allowing the boxer to continue seeking private investment while receiving institutional support within official boundaries.