President Bola Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive overhaul of Nigerian football, citing repeated failures by the country’s teams to qualify for major regional, continental and global tournaments.
In a statement on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy Bayo Onanuga , President Tinubu said the reform must tackle what he described as longstanding structural weaknesses affecting the administration and development of football in Nigeria.
Tinubu said the overhaul would focus on governance, administration, stakeholder representation, player development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability.
He noted that while other sports have made progress following the reset of the sector under the re-established National Sports Commission, football has continued to struggle despite being Nigeria’s most popular sport and the biggest beneficiary of public support and investment.
According to the President, Nigeria’s enormous football talent, passion and resources must now be matched with stronger institutions and sustained performance.
Tinubu has therefore directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the Nigeria Football Federation Secretariat and other stakeholders to maintain essential football administration while beginning a broad and consultative reform process.
The process is also expected to involve engagement with FIFA and CAF, while ensuring Nigeria continues to meet its obligations under the international football framework.
The President is calling on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition, with the aim of building a stronger, more accountable and successful football system.
The directive comes as concerns continue to mount over Nigeria’s recent struggles on the international football stage, despite the country’s wealth of football talent and huge public interest in the sport.