TINUBU ORDER'S COMPREHENSIVE REFORM OF NIGERIAN FOOTBALL

TINUBU ORDER'S COMPREHENSIVE REFORM OF NIGERIAN FOOTBALL

---Calls for Stronger Governance and National Pride

Ohis Asein

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

The President, in a statement on the state of Nigerian football, said the country’s challenges in the sport were structural and therefore required fundamental reforms capable of producing sustainable success.

According to him, Nigeria has never lacked football talent, passion or public support, but the country’s performances have increasingly fallen short of the standards expected of a football powerhouse.

“Football occupies a special place in our national life. It brings Nigerians together across generations and communities, and our country has never lacked talent, passion or support for the game.”

President Tinubu said the proposed reform would focus on strengthening football governance and administration, improving stakeholder representation and accountability, rebuilding development pathways and strengthening domestic competitions.

He stressed that Nigeria’s abundant football talent must be matched with institutions capable of transforming that talent into consistent success on the domestic and international stage.

The President also linked the planned football reforms to the broader restructuring of Nigeria’s sports sector under the re-established National Sports Commission (NSC) and the administration’s RHINSE philosophy, noting that progress had already been recorded in other sports.

“Football, our most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, must also make similar progress,” he said.

President Tinubu consequently directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat and relevant football stakeholders to ensure continuity in essential football administration while facilitating what he described as a broad and consultative reform process.

Importantly, the President said the process would involve appropriate engagement with FIFA and CAF, while ensuring that Nigeria continues to meet its obligations within the international football framework.

The directive comes at a critical period for Nigerian football, with growing calls from stakeholders for a fundamental review of the way the game is administered, developed and financed.

President Tinubu called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and work collectively towards building a stronger, more accountable and successful football system.

He said the ultimate objective was to create a football structure worthy of Nigeria’s enormous talent, passion and national pride.

“Protecting football and restoring national pride” therefore appears to be at the heart of the Federal Government’s latest push to reposition Nigerian football and return the country to the level expected of one of Africa’s traditional football giants