Opinion

STRATEGIES OF SHEHU DIKKO IN SPORTS

Published

10 months ago

January 17, 2025

Felly Mammah

Chairman, National Sports Commission Alh. Shehu Dikkos says that everybodys positive impute in sports will place the sector in an enviable platform that will make it a reference point globally more so, as the country has energetic and vibrant boys that are the dream of most African countries and the admiration of the world.

The scripture asked a rhetorical question that “can two work together accept they agree”? This question seems to have been answered by the body language and gestures of both the Chairman of the Sports Commission Alh.Shehu Dikko and the Director General Mr Bukola Olapade. The subtle smile on their faces in every gathering shows compatibility expected to put same smiles on faces of Nigerians who have long desired workable transformation in the sports sector. The ease in the gesture of these sports administrators speaks volume that with togetherness a goal can be scored either through penalty shootout, from corner, from free kick or directly.

Their visit to President Bola Tinubu led by the Chairman recently, eulogizes the truth that the President maintains his stand and commitment for Alh Shehu Dikko to saddle the mantle of leadership in the sports sector. Pictures taken during their visit to the President captured a right choice made by him to have selected Shehu Dikko to manage Sports Commission going by his statement ‘Shehu, I am happy with u and see u on the Television’. This statement further explains his expectation for making the right choice and choosing the right persons with like minds to effect changes in sports sector.

Both the Chairman and the Director General have verse experience in sports as an added advantage that will enable them manage their shortcomings. Part of the reason for their presidential visit led by the Chairman, was to present both their strategical and action Road map plan to the President, which includes the plan to create a sports economy, infrastructure development and the National Sports Festival.

Among their desirous plea was for the President to respectfully, declare Sports as a National assets to be backed by necessary legislative frame work for proper development.
Alh. Dikko explained that part of his major challenge as expected by Nigerians is to turn sports around completely from what it use to be, to new world of competition likend to global expectation. He also, wants to xtray the possibility of achieving three Rs which includes resetting peoples thinking, refocus and redirect ideas for sports to be seen not only as medication to highblood pressure and entertainment industry, but now a money making industry that will be profitale to both the government, athletes, viewers and the business entreprenuers.

Shehu Dikkos active participation in sporting activities lives him with a drawn plan on how the minds of viewers particularly the management will be drifted from sports qualifications, participation and summer tourism to sports development and production to ensure that the eco system works accordingly.

This visit to the President since their assumption of duty, was a grate opportunity for them to let Nigerians understand their defined vision of what the sector should offer the general sports world. Serious focus according to the Chairman, will also, be to have very close synergy and as well, merge the experiences of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Major Stakeholders and strictly select credible coaches, serving and experienced retired sports administrators that will help change the face of sporting activities.

The Chairman Shehu Dikko was promising as he has assured Nigerians befor the President that the remaining 6 matches to be played for qualification for the World Cup and other significant matches that involve both male and female will be strictly monitored befor March 2025. The different sports fedrations especially the NFF according to him, will be more promising and as well, regain its lost wide audience.

However, The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Exco members led by their Abuja Chairman, Mr Chidoka and his National Secretary Mr Ikenna Okonkwo shortly visited the Sports Commission Chairman to pledge their commitment in di- eminating sports news in a manner that will not paint the country with a negative image. The SWAN chairman on behalf of others was emphatic as he assured Shehu Dikko that it is observed that negative representation through thier coverages is tantamount to presenting the image of sports in the country to a liken stage of deformation. Chidoka said that the country has both deligent and intelligent correspondence that can be reckoned with.

Surprisingly, Shehu Dikko himself is a writer with pedigree and have published books that are educative. He is seen as a man with vast knowledge possibly the reason he is flexible in communication and public relation. Some people no doubt have qualifications in criticism but this natural gift of thiers can be converted to workable eco system in line with Shehu Dikkos idea to raise the GDP of our country. Shehu Dikko has opened his doors to dialouges for better understanding of his three Rs to the general public especially those with goodwill of motivations

Felly Mammah
Press Officer.

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Opinion

The Greater Abuja Land Heist: The Yesufu Family, Colleen Mero Yesufu, AGIS, and the Hidden Hands of a Billion-Naira Empire

Published

3 days ago

October 29, 2025

The Gleamer

By Dominion Duke

A civil society organisation under the banner of the National Advocacy for Justice and Truth (NAFJAT) has raised a clarion call, accusing estate agency owner Colleen Mero Yesufu of brazenly violating the 1978 Land Use Act through a campaign of alleged land grabbing.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, NAFJAT’s National Coordinator, Barr. Uthman Zango, described the leaked documents that supposedly expose Yesufu’s sprawling land acquisitions as a “stain on justice.” He expressed astonishment at how Yesufu could reportedly manipulate the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) to secure plots under multiple first names—an action that, if true, would strike at the heart of Nigeria’s land laws.

*“In Katampe District,” Zango explained, *“File No. MISC/89XX/AGIS/2020 lists Mero Y. as an allottee — ‘Application Approved, Ministerial Consent Granted.’
Weeks later, in Kabusu, a record shows C. Yesufu under ‘New Regularization – Revalidated.’ Same surname, different first names, the same month of approval. Across Jahi, Apo, Orozo, and Guzape, the same pattern repeats — overlapping allocations, identical handwriting, synchronized endorsements. Each document fits into the next like pieces of a puzzle only insiders could assemble.”

Zango lamented what he believes to be an unholy alliance between Yesufu and government officials, claiming that hardworking Nigerians have been defamed while the “true land grabber” evaded scrutiny. He underscored the need for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged “shady deals” that facilitated the land acquisitions and urged Nigerians to see through what he called a “blackmailing machine driven by envy, jealousy, and baseless hatred.”

Calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to scrutinise the leaked documents, Zango warned that land in the Federal Capital Territory—already scarce and meant to be tightly regulated—must not be commodified by a privileged few. AGIS records allegedly show the Yesufu family obtaining several prime plots within months, while countless applicants wait.

“This kind of abnormality is only possible with complicity from the inside,” Zango asserted. “Someone is feeding them timing, file codes, and clearance windows. That’s not luck — that’s access.”

He pointed to matching “Accepted,” “Scanned,” and “Temporary Revalidation” stamps as evidence of systemic fast-tracking, implying that the Yesufu family were not merely beneficiaries but active participants in a wider conspiracy. He expressed frustration over what he sees as public complacency in the face of such alleged wrongdoing.

When rumours of multiple plots began to circulate, Zango noted, the Yesufu family allegedly sought to deflect attention by accusing others. Documents show that Mrs. Rebecca Godwin-Isaac’s lands were lawfully acquired on the secondary market, yet she was tarnished, while the Yesufu name appeared on initial AGIS approvals. This inversion of guilt, Zango argued, was a calculated diversion.

He accused AGIS of systemic manipulation and highlighted the recurring term “Temporary Revalidation” across the Yesufu files, insisting that “until those files are opened, AGIS will remain a crime scene disguised as a database.” According to Zango, the Yesufu family’s alleged land empire was built not with bulldozers but with stamps, connections, and a bureaucracy reluctant to resist.

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