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 tournaments.
The President said the reform must address longstanding weaknesses in the governance and administration of Nigerian football, while strengthening stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Thursday, President Tinubu noted that other sports had recorded meaningful progress since the reset of the sports sector under the re-established National Sports Commission.
He, however, observed that football had continued to struggle due to 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,” the President said.
Tinubu stressed the need for Nigerian football to 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 Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat and relevant stakeholders to ensure continuity in essential football administration while facilitating a broad and consultative reform process.
The President also directed that the process should include appropriate engagement with the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), while safeguarding Nigeria’s obligations under the international football framework.
Tinubu called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and work collectively towards building a stronger, more accountable and successful football system.