President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football, following the country’s repeated failure to qualify for major international competitions.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President said the overhaul was necessary to address structural weaknesses affecting the administration and development of football in Nigeria.
Tinubu said the reform would focus on helping Nigeria overcome its recurring inability to qualify for major regional, continental and global tournaments.
According to the President, Nigerian football has continued to struggle despite progress recorded in other sporting sectors following the restructuring of the sports sector under the re-established National Sports Commission (NSC).
“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” Tinubu said.
He added that football, being Nigeria’s most popular sport and the biggest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, had continued to experience difficulties largely because of structural deficiencies within the system.
Consequently, Tinubu directed the NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, to work with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) secretariat to facilitate a broad and consultative reform process.
The President further instructed that the process should involve appropriate consultations with FIFA and CAF to safeguard Nigeria against possible sanctions arising from governmental interference in football administration.
The directive came just hours after Ibrahim Gusau confirmed his resignation as NFF President, while the federation’s General Secretary, Muhammad Sanusi, also stepped down from his position.
