License NPWF

NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING FEDERATION

PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING PROMOTION LICENSING, REGULATION AND EVENT SAFETY REGULATIONS, 2026

Effective Date: 1 October 2026

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PREAMBLE

WHEREAS, professional wrestling is a physically demanding combat sport involving trained athletes engaged in falls, physical contact, throws, impact and other activities capable of causing serious bodily injury;

AND WHEREAS, professional wrestling, when improperly organised or conducted without appropriate technical, medical, safety and regulatory standards, may result in serious injury, permanent disability or loss of life;

AND WHEREAS, the orderly development, professionalisation, integrity and safety of professional wrestling in Nigeria require an established regulatory framework governing promoters, promotions, wrestlers, officials, events, venues and championships;

AND WHEREAS, the National Sports Commission Act, 2023 establishes the National Sports Commission and provides for functions relating to the development, organisation and coordination of sports in Nigeria;

AND WHEREAS, the Nigeria Professional Wrestling Federation (NPWF), subject to its lawful recognition, constitution, affiliation and applicable Nigerian sports laws and regulations, seeks to establish a uniform professional wrestling promotion licensing and event-safety framework;

NOW THEREFORE, the Nigeria Professional Wrestling Federation hereby makes these Regulations for the regulation, licensing, development, safety and professional administration of professional wrestling promotions operating within the NPWF regulatory jurisdiction.

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PART I

PRELIMINARY

1. Short Title

These Regulations shall be cited as:

THE NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING FEDERATION PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING PROMOTION LICENSING, REGULATION AND EVENT SAFETY REGULATIONS, 2026.

2. Commencement

These Regulations shall come into force on:

1 OCTOBER 2026

3. Scope and Application

These Regulations shall apply to:

a. every professional wrestling promotion company;

b. every individual promoter;

c. every partnership;

d. every association or organisation;

e. every corporate body;

f. every entertainment or sports company establishing a professional wrestling division;

g. every existing professional wrestling promotion;

h. every new professional wrestling promotion established after commencement of these Regulations; and

i. any other person or entity seeking to organise, promote, stage, manage or commercially operate professional wrestling as a professional sporting activity in Nigeria,

subject to applicable Nigerian law and the lawful jurisdiction of NPWF.

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PART II

MANDATORY PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING PROMOTER LICENCE

4. Requirement to Obtain a Licence

Any person, company, organisation, association, partnership or other entity intending to establish, operate, manage, promote or commercially organise professional wrestling promotions in Nigeria shall obtain a valid Professional Wrestling Promoter Licence issued by the Nigeria Professional Wrestling Federation before commencing such professional wrestling promotion activities.

5. Prohibition of Unlicensed Professional Wrestling Promotion

Subject to applicable Nigerian law, no person or entity shall establish, operate or hold itself out as a professional wrestling promotion in Nigeria without first obtaining the appropriate NPWF Professional Wrestling Promoter Licence.

6. New Promotions

A person or entity intending to establish a new professional wrestling promotion shall:

1. submit an application to NPWF;

2. satisfy the prescribed technical, financial, administrative and safety requirements;

3. pay the prescribed licensing fee;

4. undergo NPWF due diligence;

5. obtain approval; and

6. receive a valid NPWF Professional Wrestling Promoter Licence.

No professional wrestling promotion shall commence operations until the licence has been issued.

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PART III

LICENCE FEES

8. Initial Licence

The initial Professional Wrestling Promoter Licence shall attract a:

ONE-TIME LICENSING AND REGISTRATION FEE OF ₦4,000,000

(Four Million Naira).

9. Annual Renewal

Every licensed professional wrestling promotion shall pay an:

ANNUAL RENEWAL FEE OF ₦1,000,000

(One Million Naira).

The renewal fee shall be payable annually to maintain an active licence.

10. Non-Transferability

A promoter licence shall not automatically be transferable from one company, individual or legal entity to another.

Any change in ownership or controlling interest shall be notified to NPWF and may require regulatory approval.

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PART IV

LICENCE CATEGORIES

NPWF may issue:

A. Professional Wrestling Promotion Licence

For companies or organisations operating professional wrestling promotions.

B. Individual Professional Wrestling Promoter Licence

For individuals independently promoting professional wrestling.

C. Regional/State Promotion Licence

For promoters whose principal activities are restricted to an approved geographical area.

D. National Promotion Licence

For promotions authorised to operate nationally.

E. International Promotion/Foreign Promoter Permit

For foreign promotions or promoters seeking to conduct professional wrestling activities in Nigeria, subject to Nigerian immigration, corporate, tax and other applicable requirements.

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PART V

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

An applicant shall provide:

a. CAC registration documents, where applicable;

b. registered business/company name;

c. names of directors, owners or principal officers;

d. official contact information;

e. registered office address;

f. evidence of financial capacity;

g. professional wrestling experience or relevant sporting/event-management experience;

h. proposed organisational structure;

i. proposed roster and technical personnel;

j. medical and emergency-response arrangements;

k. safety arrangements;

l. proposed venues;

m. insurance arrangements where applicable;

n. declaration of compliance with NPWF rules;

o. evidence of relevant statutory permits and approvals where applicable; and

p. any other documentation reasonably required by NPWF.

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PART VI

EVENT SANCTIONING

11. Separate Event Approval

A promoter licence authorises the holder to operate a professional wrestling promotion within the scope of the licence but does not automatically approve individual wrestling events.

Every NPWF-regulated event shall be submitted for event sanctioning in accordance with NPWF requirements.

12. Event Application

The promoter shall provide:

event name;

venue;

date;

time;

proposed match card;

participating wrestlers;

officials;

championship details;

medical personnel;

ambulance/emergency arrangements;

security arrangements;

venue safety arrangements;

ticketing arrangements;

foreign participant information where applicable; and

any other information required by NPWF.

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PART VII

SAFETY AND MEDICAL REGULATION

13. Safety as a Fundamental Requirement

Because professional wrestling is a high-risk combat sport, the safety and welfare of wrestlers shall be a primary regulatory consideration.

14. Medical Coverage

No sanctioned professional wrestling event shall commence without appropriate medical and emergency arrangements determined by NPWF according to the scale and risk profile of the event.

15. Ring and Equipment Safety

NPWF shall establish technical standards concerning:

wrestling-ring construction;

ropes;

turnbuckles;

mats and padding;

ring inspection;

lighting;

entrances;

barriers;

backstage areas; and

other equipment affecting participant safety.

16. Medical Fitness

NPWF may require medical examination and fitness certification for wrestlers participating in regulated professional wrestling.

17. Emergency Response

Promoters shall maintain appropriate procedures for dealing with:

serious injury;

unconsciousness;

suspected spinal injury;

fractures;

bleeding;

cardiac emergencies;

fire;

crowd emergencies; and

other foreseeable incidents.

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PART VIII

WRESTLER AND OFFICIAL LICENSING

18. Wrestlers

NPWF may establish a separate professional wrestler licensing and registration system.

19. Officials

Referees, commissioners, inspectors and other technical officials participating in NPWF-regulated events shall meet NPWF qualification and registration requirements.

20. Suspended Persons

A promoter shall not knowingly employ or permit a person suspended by NPWF to participate in an NPWF-regulated event.

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PART IX

CHAMPIONSHIPS

21. NPWF Championships

Only NPWF-licensed promoters or other persons expressly authorised by NPWF may organise events involving official NPWF championships.

22. Championship Belts

NPWF championship belts shall remain subject to the Federation's championship rules and conditions.

23. Unauthorised Championship Claims

No person or promotion shall falsely represent a championship as an official NPWF championship.

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PART X

PROMOTER RESPONSIBILITIES

Every licensed promoter shall:

a. comply with NPWF regulations;

b. protect the health and safety of wrestlers;

c. provide competent officials;

d. provide appropriate medical support;

e. maintain appropriate event records;

f. comply with venue requirements;

g. comply with applicable Nigerian laws;

h. report serious injuries and incidents;

i. maintain appropriate financial and administrative records;

j. honour applicable contractual obligations to wrestlers and officials;

k. refrain from fraudulent or misleading advertising; and

l. cooperate with NPWF inspections and investigations.

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PART XI

NPWF REGISTER

NPWF shall establish and maintain an:

OFFICIAL REGISTER OF LICENSED PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING PROMOTIONS IN NIGERIA

The register may include:

promotion name;

licence number;

owner/promoter;

licence category;

state of operation;

date of issue;

renewal date;

status; and

disciplinary status.

The Federation may publish the register through its official channels.

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PART XII

INSPECTION AND COMPLIANCE

24. Inspection

NPWF authorised officers may inspect NPWF-regulated events, venues, rings, equipment and relevant records in accordance with the Federation's lawful powers and applicable law.

25. Compliance Orders

Where a promoter fails to comply with NPWF requirements, the Federation may issue a written compliance order requiring corrective action.

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PART XIII

UNLICENSED PROMOTION

26. Regulatory Position

Where licensing is required under the applicable NPWF regulatory framework, a person or entity that establishes, operates or represents a professional wrestling promotion without the required NPWF licence shall be regarded as operating outside the NPWF professional wrestling regulatory framework.

NPWF may, within its lawful powers:

a. refuse recognition;

b. refuse championship sanction;

c. refuse registration of participating wrestlers or officials;

d. refuse use of NPWF championships;

e. refuse use of NPWF name, logo and marks;

f. withdraw previously granted recognition;

g. notify relevant sports authorities;

h. notify venue operators and relevant institutional partners;

i. initiate disciplinary proceedings against persons subject to NPWF jurisdiction; and

j. make appropriate referrals to competent government authorities where conduct may contravene Nigerian law.

27. No False Representation

A person or entity shall not falsely represent itself as:

> "NPWF Licensed"

or:

> "Sanctioned by the Nigeria Professional Wrestling Federation"

without valid authorisation.

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PART XIV

DISCIPLINARY MEASURES

28. Violations

Violations include:

operating without a required licence;

falsifying licensing documents;

conducting unsafe events;

using unlicensed or suspended participants;

unauthorised use of NPWF championships;

unauthorised use of NPWF intellectual property;

failure to comply with safety requirements;

failure to report serious incidents;

fraudulent conduct; and

conduct bringing professional wrestling into serious disrepute.

29. Sanctions

Depending on the circumstances, NPWF may impose:

1. warning;

2. compliance order;

3. fine where lawfully authorised;

4. probation;

5. suspension;

6. cancellation of licence;

7. withdrawal of event sanction;

8. suspension of championship recognition;

9. suspension of NPWF membership; or

10. referral to the appropriate government authority.

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PART X

EMERGENCY POWERS

30. Immediate Safety Measures

Where NPWF reasonably determines that an event presents an immediate and serious threat to life or safety, it may take any proportionate measure available under its lawful authority, including suspension or withdrawal of an event sanction.

31. Principle of Athlete Protection

No championship, financial interest, entertainment programme or commercial consideration shall take precedence over the immediate safety of a wrestler or other person at an NPWF-regulated event.

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PART XVI

APPEALS

32. Right of Appeal

A promoter affected by a suspension, cancellation or other major disciplinary decision shall have the right to appeal under procedures established by NPWF.

33. Appeals Committee

NPWF shall establish an Appeals Committee to consider eligible appeals.

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PART XVII

TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS

34. Existing Promotions

Existing professional wrestling promotions shall have six months from the commencement date to regularise their operations and obtain the required licence.

35. Safety During Transition

The transitional period shall not exempt an existing promotion from applicable safety, medical and event-sanctioning requirements.

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PART XVIII

GOVERNMENT AND SPORTS-AUTHORITY COOPERATION

NPWF shall seek cooperation and appropriate recognition from the:

National Sports Commission;

relevant Federal Government sports authorities;

State Ministries/Commissions responsible for sports;

State Sports Councils;

venue authorities;

medical and emergency services;

security agencies; and

other relevant regulatory institutions.

The National Sports Commission Act, 2023 expressly assigns the Commission functions including encouraging the development and organisation of sport and coordinating efforts to raise standards of sporting performance throughout Nigeria.

NPWF shall therefore administer these Regulations consistently with the statutory powers of the National Sports Commission and other competent Nigerian authorities.

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PART XIX

REGULATORY JUSTIFICATION

Professional wrestling involves physical contact, falls, throws, impact and other activities that can produce catastrophic injury if improperly organised.

The Federation therefore considers professional wrestling promotion to be an activity requiring professional competence, technical supervision, medical preparedness, athlete protection and accountable administration.

Accordingly:

> The establishment and operation of professional wrestling promotions shall be subject to an appropriate licensing and regulatory framework.

> Operating outside the applicable professional wrestling regulatory framework exposes wrestlers, officials, promoters and spectators to avoidable risks and may create conditions capable of resulting in serious injury, permanent disability or loss of life.

NPWF's regulatory objectives are therefore:

SAFETY

PROFESSIONALISM

ACCOUNTABILITY

ATHLETE WELFARE

INTEGRITY

DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING IN NIGERIA

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PART XX

FEES

Licence/Service Fee

Initial Professional Wrestling Promoter Licence ₦4,000,000

Annual Renewal ₦1,000,000

Event Sanction As prescribed

Wrestler Licence As prescribed

Official Licence As prescribed

Replacement Certificate As prescribed

Late Renewal As prescribed

PART XXI

OFFENCES, PENALTIES, SANCTIONS AND LEGAL ENFORCEMENT

26. Unlawful Operation Without Licence

26.1 Any individual, company, organisation, association, partnership or other entity that establishes, operates, promotes, advertises, finances or manages a professional wrestling promotion without first obtaining the required NPWF Professional Wrestling Promoter Licence shall be deemed to be operating outside the authorised professional wrestling regulatory framework.

26.2 NPWF shall not recognise, sanction, register, license or otherwise confer official status upon an unlicensed professional wrestling promotion.

26.3 Where an unlicensed promotion falsely represents itself as licensed, sanctioned, recognised or affiliated with NPWF, the Federation may immediately commence appropriate civil and/or other legal proceedings and seek all remedies available under Nigerian law.

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27. False Representation and Misuse of NPWF Authority

Any person who, without lawful authority:

a. uses the name Nigeria Professional Wrestling Federation (NPWF);

b. uses the NPWF logo, emblem, seal or official insignia;

c. represents a promotion as “NPWF Licensed”;

d. represents an event as “NPWF Sanctioned”;

e. represents a championship as an official NPWF championship;

f. issues documents purporting to originate from NPWF; or

g. falsely claims affiliation, recognition or authorisation by NPWF,

shall be subject to immediate regulatory action and, where appropriate, legal action for misrepresentation, passing off, infringement of intellectual-property rights or any other applicable cause of action under Nigerian law.

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28. Operating After Suspension or Cancellation

28.1

A promoter whose NPWF licence has been suspended or cancelled shall immediately cease representing itself as an NPWF-licensed professional wrestling promotion.

28.2

Continuing to operate under an NPWF licence after suspension or cancellation shall constitute a serious regulatory violation.

28.3

NPWF may take further legal action and notify relevant government, sports, venue and law-enforcement authorities where appropriate.

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29. Serious Safety Violations

Where a promoter:

a. stages an event without adequate medical arrangements;

b. knowingly permits an unsafe wrestling ring or facility to be used;

c. deliberately disregards a safety directive;

d. knowingly allows an unfit or medically restricted wrestler to participate;

e. obstructs medical intervention;

f. conceals a serious injury;

g. falsifies medical or safety records; or

h. engages in conduct that creates a substantial and foreseeable risk of serious injury or death,

NPWF may impose immediate suspension of the promoter's licence or event sanction, subject to applicable due-process requirements.

Where the circumstances potentially constitute an offence under Nigerian law, NPWF shall make an appropriate referral to the competent authority.

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30. Fraud and Falsification

Any promoter or applicant who knowingly submits:

forged documents;

falsified medical certificates;

false CAC information;

fraudulent financial information;

falsified wrestler records;

fraudulent licensing documents; or

materially false information to NPWF

may have its application rejected or licence immediately suspended pending investigation.

NPWF may also commence appropriate civil proceedings and/or refer the matter to the appropriate law-enforcement or regulatory authority.

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31. Graduated Penalty Structure

Except where an immediate safety intervention is necessary, NPWF shall apply proportionate disciplinary measures.

LEVEL I — MINOR VIOLATION

Examples:

late submission of reports;

minor administrative breach;

failure to update records.

Possible sanctions:

1. Written warning;

2. Compliance order;

3. Administrative penalty where lawfully authorised;

4. Mandatory corrective action.

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LEVEL II — SERIOUS VIOLATION

Examples:

repeated non-compliance;

unauthorised event;

failure to maintain required safety standards;

use of unregistered officials;

failure to submit mandatory event reports.

Possible sanctions:

1. Significant administrative penalty where lawfully authorised;

2. Probation;

3. Suspension of event sanction;

4. Suspension of promoter licence;

5. Mandatory compliance programme.

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LEVEL III — MAJOR VIOLATION

Examples:

operating while suspended;

deliberate circumvention of licensing requirements;

repeated unauthorised events;

fraudulent licensing information;

unauthorised use of NPWF championships;

serious breach of wrestler-safety requirements.

Possible sanctions:

1. Immediate suspension;

2. Cancellation of promoter licence;

3. Withdrawal of NPWF recognition;

4. Disqualification from future licensing for a prescribed period;

5. Legal proceedings;

6. Referral to relevant government authorities.

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LEVEL IV — CRITICAL VIOLATION

Examples:

conduct resulting in serious injury or death through alleged regulatory negligence or deliberate disregard of safety requirements;

deliberate concealment of catastrophic injury;

fraudulent or forged licensing documents;

organised circumvention of NPWF regulation;

deliberate impersonation of NPWF;

continued operation following licence cancellation;

conduct potentially constituting a criminal offence.

Possible action:

> IMMEDIATE INTERIM SUSPENSION + FULL INVESTIGATION + CANCELLATION OF LICENCE WHERE ESTABLISHED + LEGAL ACTION/REFERRAL TO COMPETENT AUTHORITIES.

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32. Legal Proceedings

32.1

Where NPWF considers that a person or entity has violated its protected rights, breached a licensing agreement, misrepresented its regulatory status, infringed its intellectual-property rights or otherwise caused actionable harm to the Federation, NPWF may institute civil proceedings before a court of competent jurisdiction in Nigeria.

32.2

Such proceedings may seek, where legally available:

a. injunctions;

b. declarations;

c. damages;

d. recovery of losses and costs;

e. orders restraining unauthorised use of NPWF names, marks or championships; and

f. any other remedy available under Nigerian law.

32.3

Where conduct appears to constitute a criminal offence, NPWF shall not attempt to impose a criminal sentence itself. The Federation may instead refer the matter to the appropriate Nigerian law-enforcement, prosecutorial, regulatory or judicial authority.

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33. Injunction and Emergency Court Relief

Where an unlicensed or suspended promotion continues to falsely represent itself as NPWF-authorised or threatens to use NPWF championships, marks, licences or official designations, NPWF may seek urgent injunctive or other interim relief from a court of competent jurisdiction, where legally available.

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34. Liability for Continued Non-Compliance

Where a promoter receives a formal notice of suspension, cancellation or prohibition from NPWF and deliberately continues conduct that NPWF has authority to regulate, such continued conduct shall constitute a separate and aggravated regulatory violation.

Each subsequent violation may be considered independently for purposes of disciplinary action and legal proceedings.

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35. Personal Responsibility of Directors and Principal Officers

Where a professional wrestling promotion is operated through a company or organisation, NPWF may investigate the conduct of its:

directors;

promoters;

owners;

principal officers;

event managers; and

other persons directly responsible for a violation.

Where Nigerian law permits personal liability or proceedings against such persons, NPWF may pursue or refer the matter accordingly.

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36. No Promoter Is Above the Regulations

> The corporate status of a promotion shall not be treated as a shield against regulatory accountability.

Where a company, association or individual promoter violates these Regulations, NPWF shall take appropriate action against the responsible entity and, where legally permissible, the individuals responsible for the violation.

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37. Repeat Offenders

A promoter found responsible for repeated serious violations may be designated a:

PROHIBITED PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING PROMOTER

for a period determined by NPWF, subject to applicable law and due process.

During the prohibition period, the person or entity shall not be eligible to obtain or renew an NPWF promoter licence.

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38. Public Notice of Suspension or Cancellation

NPWF may publish the suspension, cancellation or withdrawal of recognition of a promoter through its official communication channels where such publication is lawful and reasonably necessary to protect wrestlers, officials, sponsors, venues and the public.

The notice may state:

“THIS PROMOTION IS NOT CURRENTLY LICENSED OR RECOGNISED BY THE NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING FEDERATION.”

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39. Cooperation With Authorities

Where a violation potentially involves:

fraud;

forgery;

public safety;

criminal conduct;

immigration violations;

financial misconduct;

intellectual-property infringement; or

any other matter within the jurisdiction of a government authority,

NPWF may refer the matter to the appropriate competent authority.

Nothing in these Regulations shall prevent NPWF from cooperating with lawful investigations.

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40. Fundamental Enforcement Principle

PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING IS NOT A LICENCE-FREE ACTIVITY WITHIN THE NPWF REGULATORY JURISDICTION.

Any person seeking to establish and operate a professional wrestling promotion shall be required to comply with the applicable licensing framework.

The Federation's regulatory objective is not to unnecessarily restrict legitimate sporting enterprise but to ensure that professional wrestling is conducted by competent, accountable and properly regulated promoters under appropriate safety and sporting standards.

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Strong final declaration

I would add this at the end of the regulations:

FINAL REGULATORY WARNING

Any person or entity intending to establish, operate or promote professional wrestling in Nigeria is required, where NPWF licensing authority applies, to obtain and maintain the appropriate NPWF Professional Wrestling Promoter Licence before commencing operations.

No individual, company, association, organisation or promotion shall be permitted to evade the regulatory framework by operating under another name, through a newly incorporated company, through an affiliated person or through any other arrangement designed to circumvent licensing requirements.

Professional wrestling involves inherent physical risks and carries the potential for catastrophic injury and, in exceptional circumstances, loss of life. The Federation will therefore treat deliberate regulatory evasion, serious safety violations, fraudulent licensing and unauthorised representation of NPWF authority as matters of the highest seriousness.

Where appropriate and legally permissible, NPWF shall suspend or cancel licences, withdraw recognition, prohibit participation within its regulatory system, seek civil and injunctive relief before competent courts, and refer suspected offences to the appropriate Nigerian authorities.

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PART XXI

COMMENCEMENT

These Regulations shall take effect on:

1 OCTOBER 2026

and shall remain in force until amended, repealed or replaced in accordance with the NPWF Constitution and applicable Nigerian law.

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AUTHORITY AND SIGNATURES

NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING FEDERATION

NPWF

NATIONAL PRESIDENT

Chief John O. Uche

Signature: __________________________