Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo here on Tuesday inaugurated the 18-member 2014 Commonwealth Bid Committee which has former Head of State General Yakubu Gowon as chairman.

Speaking on the occasion, Obasanjo said Nigeria was eminently qualified to bid for the games.

"This is a very serious mission that requires that we put our very best foot forward, be focused, dedicated and committed to winning the bid."

He added that "it is for this reason that a former Head of State is requested to lead the committee."

The president said Nigeria, the most populous African country with a population of over 138 million, was a very important member of the Commonwealth and had all it takes to host the games, adding that the Nigerian government decided to bid because of its belief that it was the right time to do so.

He said that winning the bid would afford the country an opportunity to remove the stereotypes held by many foreigners as well as assist in opening up its tourism potentials.

"We believe this is the right time, we have paid our dues and this is our century," he said.

Obasanjo noted that 2014 would be the centenary celebration of the 1914 union of the country and that winning the bid could be part of the celebrations.

He said the committee could co-opt any experts that it needed to serve it and, as current chair-in-office of the Commonwealth, he had already commenced the campaign for the games.

According to Malam Samaila Sambawa, newly appointed federal minister of sports, the decision to bid for the games followed the successful hosting of the All Africa Games twice.

Sambawa said he believed that the country was in a very good position to win the bid following its string of successful hosting of other major engagements.

Source: Xinhua