Nigeria Football Crisis: FIFA Endorses Comprehensive NFF Reform, Dikko Says

National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko has disclosed that FIFA has endorsed Nigeria’s plan to embark on comprehensive reforms of the country’s football administration following the mass resignation of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board and General Secretary.

Dikko made the disclosure during an interview with Arise News on Friday, September 25, after engagements with officials of FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Switzerland. He explained that the resignation of the NFF leadership created a governance gap because the federation’s existing statutes did not clearly provide for a situation where there was no legally constituted leadership.

According to Bush Radio Academy, Dikko said the Nigerian government presented its proposed reform agenda to FIFA, focusing on the broader structure, governance and administration of football in the country. He said FIFA recognised the need for reforms and agreed with the proposals, while stressing that the process must be carried out in accordance with the relevant statutes and regulations.

Dikko said the proposed reforms could lead to the establishment of an independent normalisation committee to oversee the transition. According to him, such a committee would be appointed by FIFA, rather than solely by the Nigerian government, and would operate under defined terms of reference and a specific timeline.

He explained that the committee could remain in place for between six months and one year, depending on the scope of reforms eventually agreed upon. Members would be expected to operate independently and would be restricted from participating in future NFF elections for a specified period to avoid conflicts of interest.

Dikko further stated that the proposed committee would report directly to FIFA while consulting with the Nigerian government, with FIFA responsible for funding its operations.

He said consultations with NFF Congress members had already commenced as part of efforts to develop a comprehensive reform blueprint. Dikko added that FIFA was expected to conduct an on-site visit to Nigeria, during which additional stakeholders would be invited to contribute to the reform process.

A major component of the proposed reforms, he said, would be a review of the NFF electoral system. The objective would be to create a more transparent process, potentially requiring presidential candidates to present their proposed teams before elections.

Under the proposed arrangement, candidates could be required to identify their vice-president, secretary and other key officials before voting takes place. Dikko said the system would enable voters to know the full team and vision associated with each candidate.

He explained that the reform programme would be divided into immediate, medium-term and long-term measures because some aspects could extend beyond the lifespan of any normalisation committee.

The NSC chairman said the broader objective was to address longstanding structural concerns within Nigerian football and establish a more transparent and sustainable administrative framework. Current reporting has also confirmed that FIFA and Nigerian football stakeholders have been working on a roadmap covering short-, medium- and long-term reforms following the NFF leadership crisis.