Mallam Shehu Dikko must be reminded to uphold the dignity and stature of his post as Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC). Because the commission operates directly under the Presidency, this office commands a level of direct executive access and influence that surpasses many conventional ministerial portfolios, and it should be treated with the utmost respect.
Several troubling developments highlight why this reminder has become necessary:
First, regarding the FIFA Forward 1.0 and 2.0 infrastructure allocations between 2016 and 2022, Dikko appeared on national television defending the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). He asserted that development funds for mini-stadiums in Kebbi, Ugborodo, and elsewhere were managed solely between FIFA and independent builders without federation input. That narrative fell apart against clear documentation, including Central Bank transaction records, binding contracts between the NFF and the builders, verified disbursement slips, and an unjustified deduction of $200,000 in taxes taken from each contractor.
Second, Dikko actively championed an unviable petition submitted to FIFA regarding alleged dual-nationality players representing DR Congo. The challenge was never officially entertained by football’s global body because the NFF neglected to submit the mandatory filing fees. Despite this fatal flaw, both the general public and the Presidency were fed unrealistic assurances that the Super Eagles would advance to the 2026 World Cup courtesy of an administrative sanction against DR Congo.
Third, the recent trip to Zurich raises serious governance questions. Who initiated this visit, and was there an official summons from FIFA? A high-ranking national sports administrator should not be rushing overseas for such meetings—customarily, FIFA leadership would pay respects to an NSC Chairman. More crucially, FIFA’s formal correspondence on September 7, 2026, covering the discussions held on September 1, completely diverged from the narrative Dikko shared publicly. FIFA explicitly noted that no resolutions have been approved pending domestic consultations among Nigerian stakeholders, confirming that the NSC Chairman mischaracterized the outcome to the nation.
These maneuvers look like a coordinated campaign to seize control of the NFF’s transition and electoral apparatus. When Nigerian football faced leadership turbulence in 2006 following the exit of the late Ibrahim Galadima’s administration, the established league architecture was preserved under FIFA, CAF, and domestic statutes. The late Chief Oyiuki Obaseki stepped in as interim head to guide the electoral process that ultimately produced the Sani Lulu Abdullahi administration without upending the system.
Dismantling the board led by Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye alongside other tier structures was an ill-advised mistake, especially right after the NPFL finalized a valuable $7.5 million sponsorship package. Such arbitrary restructuring should belong strictly to an incoming substantive NFF board.
The appropriate course of action is to immediately reinstate the dissolved leagues and administrative frameworks to their prior status. Dikko and the NSC need to withdraw from direct intervention, let the domestic football community steer the transition process as FIFA’s communication clearly implied, and restrict their involvement to relaying verified updates to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Domestic football disputes should be settled internally through mature stakeholder engagement rather than by running overseas to global bodies without local consensus.
Prince Harrison Jalla
Chairman, Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Initiative