The chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has pushed back against allegations that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) mismanaged a $1.19 million project for a mini-stadium in Birnin-Kebbi. Dikko clarified that the international football governing body, FIFA, managed the project’s funds and execution directly, not the NFF.
Dispute Over Fund Mismanagement
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Dikko addressed recent reports and public outcry accusing the NFF of misappropriating FIFA development grants, particularly those earmarked for grassroots football and stadium infrastructure.
The focal point of the controversy is the Birnin-Kebbi mini-stadium, funded through the FIFA Forward Programme. Public outrage erupted after FIFA shared a photo in 2023 depicting the Kebbi Stadium as an seemingly unfinished structure, leading Nigerians to question the expenditure of the allocated $1.2 million.
Dikko was emphatic in dismissing the corruption claims against the NFF regarding this facility, stating categorically that “no one collected the money” within the Nigerian federation.
FIFA’s Hands-On Project Structure
The NSC chairman, drawing on his experience as the first person to deliver a FIFA Goal project in Nigeria, explained the global body’s project protocol. He stated that FIFA manages its projects directly, with the NFF’s primary responsibility being to provide the land and articulate the requirements.
“At the end of the day, it is FIFA that will appoint and pay the contractor to deliver what they had agreed on,” Dikko asserted. He elaborated that under this structure, FIFA appoints consultants, supervises contracts, and pays contractors directly, ensuring the NFF has no access to the development funds.
Timeline and Currency Challenges
Dikko attributed the perceived cost-value disparity to the volatile exchange rate and project delays. He noted that while the project is valued at $1.19 million today, it was first approved in 2015, with the procurement process commencing in 2016.
Delays in land acquisition and documentation meant that the foundation work and contract signing were pushed to 2020 before FIFA’s appointed contractor began work.
He also clarified the viral image, stating, “That structure shown was only the first phase of the project,” adding that a public tender and procurement process preceded the contract signing.
Investigation Underway
The project, funded by the FIFA Forward Programme, remains under intense scrutiny, especially after FIFA featured the stadium’s image on its social media banner, which further fueled public criticism.
Dikko stood by his position, reiterating that FIFA remains responsible for the project’s execution and insisting that the funds were handled transparently and in accordance with global standards. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Sports has launched an investigation into the NFF’s management of FIFA and CAF grants, with the Birnin-Kebbi facility serving as a key element of the probe.
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