Musa Nimrod, the president of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), has announced plans to introduce a separate Military Armed Forces Volleyball Championship and Paramilitary Volleyball Championship as part of its expanded 2026 calendar.
“The introduction of two distinct competitions for uniformed services is a major highlight of the 2026 calendar; it is a new initiative in the NVBF,” Nimrod said in an interview with journalists on Sunday in Abuja.
According to him, the introduction of distinct championships for the military and paramilitary formations reflects the federation’s commitment to inclusiveness, structured development, and competitive balance within the sport.
“From next year (2026), the military armed forces will have their own volleyball championship, and the paramilitary organisations will also have their own separate competition as a standalone competition.
“Both representatives have been duly informed,” he said.
He explained that the new championships would provide a dedicated platform for teams within the military and paramilitary institutions to compete.
Nimrod said the federation operated a robust league structure comprising the Premier League, Division One, and Division Two. he added that the Division One and Division Two leagues were already concluded for the 2025 season in Abia State.
He explained that the Premier League, which served as the final competition of the year, officially brought the 2025 NVBF volleyball season to an end.
“On December 13, we recently concluded the 2025 Comptroller-General of Customs Premier League final phase in Abuja.
“This marks the official end of the federation’s volleyball activities for the 2025 season while setting the stage for a new era under the newly inaugurated board,” he said.
“From January 2026, we will be back with the Nigeria Volleyball Super Cup, scheduled for January 31, 2026, followed by the President’s Beach Volleyball Cup in Kaduna,” he said.
Nimrod said the competitions would take place before the commencement of other activities.
“He emphasised that 2026 would be a busy year for Nigerian volleyball, featuring the African Club Championship and National Cup.
“Others are Nations Cup, African Games qualifiers, and other international engagements. All our programmes will go ahead with or without sponsorship,” he said.
He commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its continued support of volleyball development and appealed for continued partnership, particularly towards hosting future continental events.
Nimrod also commended the teams, officials, sponsors, and stakeholders—both local and international —for their cooperation throughout the year.
He assured them that official communication and invitations for 2026 programmes would be circulated before the end of 2025. 
(NAN)