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WHY THE NIGERIA GOVERNMENT SHOULD HAVE A SAY ON THE LEADERSHIP OF IT’S NUMBER ONE SPORTING ASSET, FOOTBALL

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Without mincing words, it must be stated clearly that anyone who is murmuring that Nigeria Government should not have a say on who becomes the New NFF President is faking ignorance to the stack realities on ground .

The Nigeria Football Federation is a Quasi Government Organisation which is under the supervision of the Ministry of Sports.

For the sake of this piece , Nigerians must understand what a Quasi Government Organisation is.

This is a Government Organisation that is assigned some or more attributes of a private company because of its Peculiar nature.

So it must be noted that the Private outlook the NFF enjoys was given to it by the Nigeria Government and no one else , not even FIFA .

And like any other Parastatals and Quasi Government bodies , the NFF is subject to the Policy Direction of the Nigeria Government.

And for the Government to see this Policy Direction through , it must be Comfortable with the Head of all it’s Parastatals and Quasi organisations, football inclusive .

Anyone can quickly want to say what is he saying, afterall the NFF is a Private organisation.

Yes, it is , because the Government accords it that characteristics.

The NFF is a creation of the Nigerian Government because it wants to play football locally and internationally, hence the need to join the rest of the World to play Association Football with the body that organises football globally, FIFA .

In Nigeria, Football is the Country’s number one Sporting Asset and the Government gives permission to like-minds to run the game as long as they comply with the laws of the land.

This is the reason why the Government is still the number one source of funding for the NFF and that has never changed.

The NFF collects monthly subventions from Government and sometimes also get Special Interventions for its activities.

For such an organisation that is heavily funded by Government, wouldn’t it be total lack of Responsibility and Ignorance of its Supervisory roles for any Government to keep quiet on who heads the organisation?

It is always very easy for those that will criticise to jump into the bandwagon of FIFA Fear and FIFA ban on the excuse of Government Interference.

FIFA does not want the running of football in member countries to be run by Government which is what it should be for the effective governance of the game .

But FIFA recognises the role Government plays in the stability of every Football Federation especially in Africa, but often times FIFA is being used to fight the Government by those running the game to push forward their Agenda, all in the name of FIFA ban and Government Interference.

Those managing the Country’s football often forget the history and chronology of the NFF they are part of.

What Football is to Nigeria as a country is far beyond just a round leather game , it is a unifier for a multi complex country like ours .

This is the reason why failure to qualify for a World Cup will be a big issue for the leadership of those running our football compare to maybe other Countries.

Imagine Nigeria qualifies for the World Cup in Qatar, you can be rest assured that the day Nigeria will be playing , the crime rate all across the country will be reduced and the unity of the country is fostered more.

This alone can give a sitting Nigeria President a return to office if Nigeria does well at the World cup and vice versa.

I give this example to let people understand a serious Government cannot fold it’s hand and just allow anybody to head the NFF.

If the person who heads the NFF is who the Government of the day is comfortable with ,it is the gain of the country’s football more than any other thing .

The person will get full Government support financially and there will be less friction between him and the Minister.

But if not it’s the Country’s football that will suffer big time and the NFF will struggle to get things done while all the blame will still fall back to the Government.

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

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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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