The Nigerian House of Representatives has initiated a comprehensive investigation into the alleged mismanagement of an estimated $25 million received by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) from global football governing body FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) between 2015 and 2025. This resolution followed the unanimous adoption of a motion of urgent public importance, co-sponsored by lawmakers Adedayo Adesola of Lagos and Felix Nwaeke of Rivers State. The motion, titled “Misuse of FIFA and CAF Grants by the Nigerian Football Federation,” underscored deep concerns that years of alleged financial irregularities and a notable lack of transparency within the NFF have severely undermined public trust and directly contributed to the consistent decline in the performance of Nigeria’s national football teams.

Lawmakers highlighted a pattern of alleged financial indiscretions, citing several specific instances. A significant example from 2016 involved a FIFA audit query concerning the handling of a $1.1 million development grant to the NFF, where a substantial sum of $802,000 was reportedly lacking proper documentation. This prompted the then Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, to order an independent audit and demand that the NFF account for all receipts and disbursements related to the funds. Furthermore, the House noted that between 2018 and 2019, NFF officials, including its then-president Amaju Pinnick, faced widespread public criticism and were subjected to probes by Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), alongside various court actions linked to alleged mismanagement of diverse funds and sponsorships.

A particularly contentious allegation involves a $1.2 million grant that the NFF purportedly used for the construction of the Birnin Kebbi Stadium. This facility has been described by lawmakers as “substandard” in both quality and quantity, failing to justify the significant amount claimed to have been spent on the project. The issue gained widespread attention and outrage across Nigeria after a 2023 image of the unfinished facility, built under the FIFA Forward Programme, went viral on FIFA’s official X and Facebook pages, sparking intense speculation over alleged NFF fund mismanagement. The gravity of the situation was further emphasized by a comparison with the Kenyan Football Federation, which reportedly utilized a similar grant amount to develop a standard and well-equipped football facility, thereby raising additional concerns about potential profligacy within the NFF.

Former Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh, has also publicly accused the NFF of stifling the growth of football in Nigeria through the misappropriation of grants from FIFA and CAF, specifically mentioning the questionable handling of $1 million received by the NFF to prepare the Super Eagles for the 2002 World Cup. With crucial upcoming international tournaments, including another African Cup of Nations and World Cup play-offs involving the Super Eagles, lawmakers stressed the urgent need for decisive action against the alleged misuse of public funds by the NFF leadership. Consequently, the motion was unanimously endorsed and referred to the House Committee on Sports, which is now tasked with probing the NFF’s finances from 2015 to date. The committee is also mandated to invite the NFF leadership to appear before it, armed with comprehensive documents detailing the receipts and expenditures of all international grants.