Tinubu orders comprehensive reform of Nigerian football
President Bola Tinubu has directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football following the country’s repeated failures to qualify for major regional, continental and global competitions.
The President said the reform must address longstanding challenges affecting the governance and administration of the game, while strengthening stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability.
“Football, Nigeria’s most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, has continued to struggle basically due to structural deficits within the system,” Tinubu said.
He noted that while other sports have made significant progress following the reset of the sector under the re-established National Sports Commission, football has continued to face setbacks due to weaknesses within its existing structure.
According to the President, Nigeria’s football system must better reflect the country’s abundance of talent, passion and resources through stronger institutions and sustained sporting success.
Tinubu consequently directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat and other relevant stakeholders to maintain continuity in essential football administration while facilitating a broad and consultative reform process.
The process, he said, should involve appropriate engagement with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA, while ensuring that Nigeria continues to meet its obligations under the international football framework.
The President also appealed to football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and work collectively towards building a stronger, more transparent, accountable and successful football system.
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