- President Tinubu directs comprehensive reforms to address Nigerian football’s recurring failures.
- NFF, National Sports Commission and stakeholders to begin a broad consultative reform process.
- Reform will focus on governance, accountability, domestic competitions and player development.
President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football, citing persistent structural weaknesses and the country’s repeated struggles to qualify for major regional, continental and global competitions.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the President directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the Nigeria Football Federation Secretariat and other key stakeholders to ensure continuity in football administration while laying the foundation for far-reaching reforms.
EDITOR’S PICK
- How Lagos Achieved 57.4% Exclusive Breastfeeding Rate
- Shaibu Lists Nigeria’s Biggest Security Challenges
- Vote, Protect Your Mandate, Governor Adeleke Urges Residents Ahead of August 15 Polls.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed the directive in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to the Presidency, the proposed reform is aimed at addressing longstanding problems affecting the governance, administration and overall development of football in Nigeria.
Tinubu said the process must strengthen stakeholder representation, improve development pathways, revive domestic competitions and promote greater accountability across the football system.
“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” the President said.
He noted that despite football enjoying enormous public support and receiving significant national attention, Nigeria has continued to face setbacks due largely to weaknesses within the system.
Tinubu contrasted the situation in football with improvements recorded in other sporting disciplines following reforms introduced after the National Sports Commission was re-established.
According to the President, Nigeria’s difficulties in football cannot be blamed on a shortage of talent, passion or available resources.
“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,” he said.
The President stressed that Nigerian football must begin to translate the country’s vast pool of talented players and passionate supporters into consistent success on the international stage.
He described the planned reforms as an urgent effort to correct deep-rooted problems rather than a routine administrative exercise.
Tinubu also said the reform process would involve appropriate engagement with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football, CAF, while ensuring that Nigeria continues to meet its obligations under international football governance rules.
The President appealed to football administrators, stakeholders and Nigerians to support the process and work together towards building a stronger and more accountable football system.
The directive comes at a challenging time for Nigerian football, following the Super Eagles’ recent struggles in major qualification campaigns and lingering governance disputes involving the Nigeria Football Federation.
Tinubu expressed hope that the reforms would place Nigerian football on a stronger foundation and help the country return to sustained success in regional, continental and global competitions.
FURTHER READING
