President Bola Tinubu has directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football, following the country’s repeated failures to qualify for major regional, continental and global tournaments.
The President said the reform was necessary to address longstanding challenges within the nation’s football system and build a stronger, more accountable and successful structure capable of matching Nigeria’s enormous footballing potential.
According to a State House press release issued on Wednesday, President Tinubu said the reform must address critical areas including governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football.
“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” the President said.
Tinubu noted that while other sports have recorded meaningful progress since the reset of the sports sector under the re-established National Sports Commission, football has continued to struggle because of structural weaknesses within the system.
“Football, Nigeria’s most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, has continued to struggle basically due to structural deficits within the system,” he said.
The President stressed that Nigerian football must begin to reflect the country’s exceptional talent, passion and available resources through stronger institutions and sustained performance.
As part of the directive, President Tinubu asked the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work closely with the Secretariat of the Nigeria Football Federation and other relevant football stakeholders to ensure continuity in essential football administration and facilitate a broad and consultative reform process.
The reform process, according to the President, will also involve appropriate engagement with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football while ensuring that Nigeria continues to meet its obligations within the international football framework.
President Tinubu called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and work collectively towards building a stronger, more transparent, accountable and successful football system for the country.
The directive was contained in a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, and dated August 27, 2026.
