Tinubu Directs Comprehensive Reform of Nigerian Football

President Bola Ahmed 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, in a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the reform would address longstanding structural challenges affecting the administration and development of football in Nigeria.
Tinubu said the process must strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across the football sector.
According to the President, while other sports have recorded meaningful progress following the reset of the sports sector under the re-established National Sports Commission, football has 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,” Tinubu said.
He stressed that Nigeria must match its abundance of football talent, passion and resources with stronger institutions and sustained performance.
The President therefore 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 consultative reform process.
The process, according to the statement, will also involve appropriate engagement with the Federation 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.
Tinubu called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and work collectively towards building a stronger, more accountable and successful football system.