President Bola Tinubu has directed a comprehensive overhaul of Nigerian football following the country’s repeated failure to qualify for major regional, continental and global tournaments.
The President said the reform must address longstanding weaknesses in governance, administration, stakeholder representation, player-development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across the sport.
According to Tinubu, football remains Nigeria’s most popular sport and the biggest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention.
“Yet, despite the progress recorded in other sports since the reset of the sector under the re-established National Sports Commission, football has continued to underperform because of deep structural deficits.
“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.
He stressed that Nigeria’s football institutions must match the country’s exceptional talent, passion and resources with stronger governance structures and sustained performance.
Tinubu directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the Nigeria Football Federation Secretariat and other relevant stakeholders to maintain continuity in essential football administration while leading a broad and consultative reform process.
The process, he said, should include appropriate engagement with the Federation Internationale de Football Association and the Confederation of African Football, while safeguarding Nigeria’s obligations under the international football framework.
The President urged football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition, saying collective action was necessary to build a stronger, more accountable and successful football system.
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.