Tinubu orders comprehensive football reform

President Bola Tinubu has ordered an extensive overhaul of Nigerian football in an effort to rectify the nation's persistent failures to qualify for major tournaments, both regional and international. Tinubu instructed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to collaborate with the Nigeria Football Federation Secretariat and other key football stakeholders to ensure administrative continuity while launching a wide-ranging reform process.

Bayo Onanuga, the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, announced this directive in a statement titled 'President Tinubu Directs Comprehensive Football Reform.'

The President highlighted the sport's enormous public support and attention, but underscored that deep structural deficiencies hindered the sport's performance. These shortcomings include governance, administration, stakeholder representation, developmental pathways, domestic competitions, and accountability. Tinubu compared the sport's struggles to the progress made in other sports after the National Sports Commission's reestablishment, attributing the underperformance to internal weaknesses rather than insufficient resources or talent.

Three years since assuming office, The PUNCH correspondent, Stephen, has been reporting on various aspects of Nigeria's presidency, politics, security, immigration, and trafficking in persons. The reform will involve engagement with FIFA and CAF, while ensuring Nigeria's adherence to the international football governance framework. Tinubu called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support this transition, working together to establish a stronger, more accountable, and successful football system.