By Obasola Olatunde
The House of Representatives has launched a full scale investigation into the alleged mismanagement of over $25 million in grants received by the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) between 2015 and 2025.
The move followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance during Tuesday’s plenary, co sponsored by Hon. Adedayo Adesola (Lagos) and Hon. Felix Nwaeke (Rivers), amid growing public outrage over alleged corruption and poor accountability within the NFF.
Presenting the motion titled “Need to Curb Further Misuse of FIFA and CAF Grants by the Nigerian Football Federation,” Adesola said the misuse of international football grants has contributed significantly to the decline in Nigeria’s football performance and eroded public trust.
He recalled that in December 2016, FIFA raised an audit query over the handling of $1.1 million by the NFF, of which $802,000 lacked proper documentation. The then Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, subsequently ordered an independent audit, demanding that the NFF account for every dollar received.
Between 2018 and 2019, several NFF officials, including the former president Amaju Pinnick, were reportedly investigated by the EFCC and ICPC over alleged misappropriation of funds and sponsorship deals.
Adesola also cited a fresh controversy over the $1.2 million FIFA development fund, which the NFF allegedly claimed was used to construct the Birnin Kebbi Stadium.
“An on-site inspection of the project shows it is substandard and incomplete, far below the value of $1.2 million,” the lawmaker said, comparing it to a similar facility in Kenya built with the same amount but meeting international standards.
He argued that the disparity highlights a pattern of waste and possible fraud within the NFF’s management of grants meant to develop Nigerian football.
Adesola stressed that with another African Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers on the horizon, “there is a need to take decisive action to stop the continuous misuse of funds meant to uplift our football.”
The motion, which received unanimous support, was adopted by the House under the leadership of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, who directed the establishment of a special investigative committee to probe all NFF financial transactions from 2015 to date.
The committee is expected to invite the NFF leadership to appear before it with detailed records of receipts, expenditures, and project reports covering all grants received from FIFA and CAF.
Over the last decade, the NFF has been repeatedly accused of financial recklessness, from unpaid player bonuses to incomplete projects.
Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh recently reignited the debate, accusing the NFF of “stifling the growth of Nigerian football through chronic corruption.”
Observers say the House probe could be the most extensive financial audit of Nigerian football in years, potentially setting the tone for sweeping reforms in sports governance and transparency.
