Tinubu Orders Comprehensive Reform of Nigerian Football

Tinubu Orders Comprehensive Reform of Nigerian Football

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football following the country’s repeated struggles to qualify for major regional, continental and global competitions.

The President said the reform is necessary to address longstanding structural weaknesses affecting the administration and development of football in Nigeria.

According to Tinubu, the review will focus on governance, administration, stakeholder representation, player development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across the football ecosystem.

The President noted that while other sporting disciplines have recorded progress following the restructuring of Nigeria’s sports sector under the re-established National Sports Commission, football has continued to face challenges largely due to institutional and structural deficiencies.

“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,” Tinubu said.

He stressed that Nigeria’s football system must be strengthened to match the country’s abundance of talent, passion and resources with effective institutions and consistent international performance.

As part of the reform process, President Tinubu directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat and other relevant stakeholders to ensure continuity in essential football administration while facilitating a broad and inclusive consultation.

The President also directed that the process should involve appropriate engagement with FIFA and CAF, while ensuring that Nigeria continues to meet its obligations under the international football framework.

Tinubu called on football administrators, players, stakeholders and Nigerians at large to support the reform process and work collectively towards building a stronger, more transparent, accountable and successful Nigerian football system.

The move is expected to pave the way for institutional reforms aimed at restoring consistency and competitiveness to Nigerian football at regional, continental and global levels.

Tinubu Orders Comprehensive Reform of Nigerian Football