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FIFA’s action in upturning the Ivorian football federation emergency committee decison, puts NFF on the edge

Published

5 years ago

August 25, 2020

Editor

On Sunday this week, the world football governing body FIFA, ordered the cancelation of the Ivorian football federation (FIF) emergency general assembly following their decision to vote on replacing the electoral commission handling the Ivorian FA elections.

FIF, that is the Ivorian FA was trying to freeze out former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba from the election perhaps to favour the Vice president and president of the league body, Sory Diabate who is also running for the plum job alongside former third FA vice president Idriss Diallo

In what looked like a carefully planned coup by FIF, that has full resemblance to what happened in Anambra state where the NFF bluntly put aside the election conducted by the electoral committee only to go ahead and set up a caretaker committee with a fresh mandate to run football in the state for another three months before putting in place modalities for fresh election, FIFA in it’s wisdom described the action of the Ivorian FA as unconstitutional and totally out of place.

In a letter dated August 21, 2020, FIFA told the FIF that
*”the emergency committee is not competent to suspend the FIF electoral process which is already ongoing and must resume without delay*”

This ruling has further rubbished a recent ruling of the Nigeria football federation to interfere in the Anambra FA election by first setting aside the decision of the congress that gave electoral committee powers to conduct a virtual election and then nullifying the outcome of the election that returned the incumbent Senator Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah to power for a second term.

Key football stakeholders in Anambra state and some members of the electoral committee are currently putting heads together on how to put forward a strong worded petition to FIFA to intervene in the injustice that took place only recently in Nigeria football.

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Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support

Published

6 days ago

September 30, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.

More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.

The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.

Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.

The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.

Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.

Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.

Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.

Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.

The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.

Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.

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