By : Prince Harrison Jalla
Three institutions should be held responsible for the free fall of Nigerian football and its endemic corruption: the EFCC, ICPC, and FIFA.
Nigeria, a country once rated fifth in the world by FIFA ranking, would have maintained its status in Africa and the world if there were consequences for corruption. If those who embezzled and mismanaged funds meant for football development—whether funds from FIFA, the Federal Government of Nigeria, or private sector sponsorships—were in jail by now, all our national teams would be performing excellently.
Corruption has eaten so deeply into the fabric of Nigerian football that even recruitment into the national teams is no longer based on merit. NFF Board members own football academies, act as scouts and agents, and dictate to gullible coaches who obey them to keep their jobs. In a sane society, these acts would be considered a conflict of interest.
1. The EFCC
Frustrated by the level of corruption and impunity in the management of public funds within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the then Minister of Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung, wrote a petition dated 20th December 2016 to the EFCC, requesting an investigation into the finances of the NFF.
When the EFCC failed to act, Mr. Dalung sent an official complaint dated 18th October 2018 to the late President Muhammadu Buhari over the agency’s reluctance to investigate the NFF. This complaint prompted the EFCC to produce an investigative report dated 15th November 2018 to President Buhari.
The EFCC report indicted the NFF leadership for mismanagement and embezzlement of several billions of naira in sponsorship money, as well as millions of U.S. dollars from FIFA grants. The twist came when the EFCC suddenly and deliberately ignored the principal officers who diverted these funds, instead prosecuting their messengers.
That case, which once drew the President’s attention, died a natural death. Apart from Solomon Dalung’s petition, there were several others from football stakeholders that never saw the light of day.
2. The ICPC
The ICPC’s story is even more intriguing. The agency thoroughly investigated all petitions before it, indicted former principal officers of the NFF, and issued a notice of seizure dated 15th September 2019 in two national dailies — The Guardian and Daily Trust — as a paid advertisement.
However, the same ICPC later succumbed to pressure and compromised the case. As we speak, the ICPC has failed to prosecute the former NFF officials it indicted.
To expose the alleged complicity and corruption in Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies, two critical football stakeholders have dragged the ICPC to court in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1795/2024.
3. FIFA
FIFA’s role is a European conspiracy. The organization, dominated by Europeans, sees Africa as a threat in terms of football talent. Their strategy is to keep Nigeria down — and by extension, keep the entire African continent down.
They promote and support charlatans to run football in African countries, covering up and encouraging corruption to safeguard the cheap bloc votes they receive from Africa during FIFA election cycles. FIFA cannot feign ignorance of the massive corruption in African football, especially in Nigeria.
Until African football leaders realize that it is African talent that makes European football thrive — and begin to reform football from within — we will continue to remain stagnant. Countries like South Africa and Morocco are already taking the lead in football reform across Africa.
FIFA Funding and Accountability
In a recent release, the NFF stated that FIFA’s streams of funding are tied to specific projects, though they did not specify which.
• Under FIFA Forward 1 & 2, the NFF received a total of $10 million in tranches between 2017–2022, out of which $2.3 million was allocated to the Kebbi and Ugborodo projects.
• The FIFA Forward project, initiated in 2016, was a four-year financial assistance scheme for infrastructure development such as secretariats, mini-stadiums, technical training centres, and befitting camping facilities for all categories of national teams (male and female).
The Federal Government, through the National Assembly, also allocates funds annually for NFF running costs, FIFA and CAF competitions, female football, and grassroots development.
Therefore, the NFF — particularly the principal officers of the previous board — must tell Nigerians:
• What happened to the $7.7 million balance from FIFA Forward 1 & 2?
• What happened to the $8.4 million FIFA 2014 World Cup grant?
• What happened to the $10 million FIFA 2018 World Cup grant?
There is no trace of these funds today, as the money did not pass through the known NFF domiciliary accounts in UBA and Zenith Bank — it was allegedly diverted to unknown accounts.
Furthermore, approximately $40 million came into the Nigeria Premier League over five years as broadcast sponsorship from SuperSport TV under the League Management Company. What happened to this money? Nigerians deserve to know.
If the English Premier League, which Nigerians passionately follow today, was not prudently managed from inception, it would not have become the global brand it is now.
The same question applies to funds from sponsors such as Cadbury Nigeria Ltd, Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd, 1XBet, Aiteo Group, Guinness Nigeria Ltd, Wapic Insurance, Globacom, IGI Insurance, and Nigerian Breweries. Where did all that money go?
The Way Forward
The only solution to salvage Nigerian football moving forward is for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to:
• Dissolve the illegal NFF Board,
• Prosecute and jail former principal officers of the NFF,
• Reorganize and reform the NFF from top to bottom.
President Tinubu has the tools to act. France did it after the disastrous 2010 World Cup and emerged stronger — winning the 2018 World Cup. Spain did it recently, and their football system is now the envy of the world.
The NFF as it currently stands is a disgrace and an international embarrassment to Nigeria.
By: Prince Harrison Jalla
