House of Representatives to Investigate NFF Over Alleged Misuse of $25 Million FIFA and CAF Grants

Nigerian lawmakers have launched a probe into the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over the alleged mismanagement of $25 million in grants received from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) between 2015 and 2025.

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate claims that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) misused approximately $25 million in international football grants received over the past decade from world football’s governing body, FIFA, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Adedayo Adesola (Lagos) and Felix Nwaeke (Rivers), which called for a comprehensive inquiry into the management of these funds by the NFF.

Concerns Over Transparency and Accountability

The motion, titled “Misuse of FIFA and CAF Grants by the Nigerian Football Federation,” expressed concern that persistent financial irregularities within the NFF have eroded public confidence and contributed to the declining performance of Nigeria’s national football teams.

Lawmakers alleged that repeated instances of mismanagement and a lack of transparency had damaged the federation’s credibility and undermined Nigeria’s standing in international football.

Audit Queries and Past Investigations

In his presentation, Adesola cited a 2016 audit query from FIFA concerning the handling of a $1.1 million development grant, revealing that $802,000 of the amount lacked proper documentation.

He recalled that this prompted the then Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, to order an independent audit and direct the NFF to provide a detailed account of all receipts and disbursements.

“The House notes that between 2018 and 2019, NFF officials, including the then president, Amaju Pinnick, faced public criticism and were subject to investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), as well as court proceedings linked to alleged financial mismanagement,” Adesola stated.

Questionable Stadium Project in Birnin Kebbi

Adesola further referenced an alleged $1.2 million grant purportedly used by the NFF for the construction of the Birnin Kebbi Stadium, describing the facility as “substandard” and “unworthy of the amount claimed to have been spent.”

“One of these funds, a $1.2 million grant, is the subject of a trending news report, which alleges that the NFF used it to construct the Birnin Kebbi Stadium,” he said.

He added: “A physical inspection of the stadium in Birnin Kebbi revealed it to be a substandard facility, both in quality and scale, falling short of justifying the $1.2 million reportedly expended on the project.”

Next Steps

Following deliberations, the House mandated its relevant committees to investigate the alleged misuse of FIFA and CAF grants, assess the extent of accountability within the NFF, and report back with findings and recommendations.

The probe is expected to scrutinise not only how the funds were allocated and spent but also the level of oversight exercised by both FIFA and CAF during the period under review