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 was necessary to address longstanding structural weaknesses affecting the administration, development and overall performance of football in Nigeria.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Tinubu said the reform must strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across the football sector.
“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 noted that while other sports had recorded meaningful progress following the reset of the sports sector under the re-established National Sports Commission, football had continued to underperform because of weaknesses within its existing structure.
He said Nigeria’s football system must be restructured to ensure that the country’s abundant footballing talent, widespread public passion and significant investment are matched by strong institutions and sustained results.
As part of the process, the President directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work closely with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat and relevant football stakeholders.
The collaboration, he said, should ensure continuity in essential football administration while facilitating a broad and consultative reform process involving key actors across the sport.
The proposed reform is expected to address the administration of the game, the development of players and other talent pathways, domestic competitions, stakeholder participation and mechanisms for accountability.
President Tinubu also directed that appropriate consultations be held with the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), while ensuring that Nigeria continues to meet its obligations under the international football framework.
The President called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and work collectively towards building a stronger, more transparent and successful football system.
The directive comes amid growing concerns over the performance and administration of Nigerian football, particularly the failure of the country’s national teams to consistently secure places at major regional, continental and world competitions.
Tinubu said the objective of the reform was ultimately to create a football system capable of converting Nigeria’s exceptional talent and passion for the sport into consistent success on the international stage.