Members of the Congress of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have unanimously welcomed and commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for directing a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football.
At a meeting held at Reno Hotel, Katampe, Abuja, members of the Congress expressed their commitment to supporting and aligning with the reforms expected to emerge from the process.
The Congress also applauded President Tinubu for what it described as his unprecedented support and funding for Nigerian football, acknowledging the President’s strong commitment to the growth of the game and sports development across the country.
Members agreed that Nigerian football requires urgent reform and a comprehensive reset to improve governance, transparency, accountability, stakeholder representation, domestic competitions and the overall development of the game.
According to the Congress, the proposed reforms are necessary to place Nigerian football on a stronger footing and ensure sustainable success both on and off the pitch.
Following the meeting, a delegation of Congress members drawn from all zones and key football constituencies, including players, coaches, referees, the media and other stakeholders, met with the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, on Friday, August 28, 2026, at the Commission’s headquarters.
The delegation received further briefing from the NSC Chairman on the vision and objectives of President Tinubu’s reform agenda for football, sports infrastructure development, funding and harnessing the potential of the sports economy.
The briefing also focused on the Renewed Hope Initiative for Nigeria’s Sports Economy (RHINSE) framework and its role in repositioning the nation’s sports sector.
Speaking on behalf of the entire Congress, the members pledged their unconditional alignment and support for the reform process.
They stated that Congress would await the outcome of ongoing engagements among the NSC, FIFA and CAF, after which it would support the activation and implementation of the reform process in accordance with the roadmap and framework agreed by the relevant parties.
The members further agreed that football remains a major national asset and must align with President Tinubu’s wider reform agenda.
They urged all stakeholders to embrace the proposed changes, insisting that personal interests and fears about the impact of reform must not be allowed to stand in the way of Nigerian football’s progress.
“Neither personal interests nor fears about taking the road less travelled, and the changes the reform may bring, should stand in the way of Nigerian football’s progress,” the Congress stated.
As a major stakeholder in the NFF, Congress reaffirmed its readiness to play its part in restoring confidence, stability and delivering lasting success for Nigerian football in line with the objectives of President Tinubu’s directive.