President Bola Tinubu has directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football to address the structural weaknesses blamed for the country’s repeated failures to qualify for major regional, continental and world tournaments.
The President said the reform must strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football.
Tinubu disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, shortly after NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and members of the federation’s executive committee resigned from their positions.
“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 noted that while other sports had recorded meaningful progress since the reset of the sports sector under the re-established National Sports Commission, football had continued to struggle because of structural weaknesses within the system.
“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 said Nigerian football must match the country’s exceptional talent, passion and resources with stronger institutions and sustained performance.
He directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the NFF Secretariat and relevant football stakeholders to ensure continuity in essential football administration and facilitate a broad, consultative reform process.
According to the statement, the process will include appropriate engagement with FIFA and CAF while safeguarding Nigeria’s obligations within the international football framework.
Tinubu also called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and work together to build a stronger, more accountable and successful football system.