NSA Announces Safety Plan for Boxers After Two Died

The National Sports Authority (NSA) has announced plans to implement comprehensive safety plans in the country’s boxing arena.

In a statement, it said the reforms are designed to strengthen medical, technical, and regulatory procedures.

This, it said, will ensure safer, more professional, and globally aligned standards.

The NSA said the plan was carved out together with the Ministry and key stakeholders in the boxing fraternity, based on the recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on Boxing, which investigated the death of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju.

“These include a comprehensive five-year safety and development plan, anchored by the establishment of a nine-member Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee the affairs of the sport.”

This comes after Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju fell to his death during an international light heavyweight contest against Ghanaian boxer Jon Mbanugu on March 30, 2025.

The recent tragic incident involved Ernest “Bahubali” Akushey, who died barely two weeks after his super middleweight bout against Jacob Dickson at the Bukom Boxing Arena on Friday, September 12, 2025.

It is speculated that he may have died from the punches he received in the game in which he suffered an embarrassing defeat.

The NSA and the Ministry of Sports have since suspended all boxing activities to make way for the implementation of the reforms.

Story by Hajara Fuseini

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