The Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reforms Initiative has warned that Nigerian football is facing a critical period, calling for urgent action to address what it described as deep-rooted administrative problems in the sport.
In a statement signed by its Chairman, Prince Harrison Jalla, the group said attention on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) election scheduled for September 27, 2026, was overshadowing the need for comprehensive reforms.
Jalla said the election is already being challenged in court, citing cases before the Court of Appeal and Federal High Court, while calling for the enforcement of pending judgments and implementation of reforms.
He urged the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the National Assembly’s sports committees to intervene, arguing that their continued silence could worsen the situation.
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Jalla also criticised the influence of State Football Association chairmen in the administration of Nigerian football, alleging that the group had dominated the system since 2008 without delivering the needed progress.
He further questioned the credibility of the forthcoming NFF election and alleged that two presidential directives on football reforms were yet to be implemented.
The reform advocate called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to treat football as an important economic sector and urgently address alleged administrative failures and corruption in the game.
He warned that continued inaction could deepen tensions among stakeholders and potentially lead to a breakdown of law and order.
“It cannot be business as usual this time around,” Jalla said.
