Nigeria’s football overhaul, ordered by President Bola Tinubu, has moved into action with the suspension of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) elections and the removal of the leadership of the country’s league organisations.
The NFF has halted every arrangement connected to its elective congress, which had been set for September 27 in Lafia.
Quick facts
- The planned NFF congress in Lafia has been suspended.
- A new election timetable will follow a broad reform programme.
- League administration will temporarily pass to Chief Operating Officers.
A new electoral exercise will be launched after the expected wide-ranging reforms are completed. The process will be carried out in consultation with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Chairmen, appointed directors and chief executive officers of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Women Football League and Nationwide League One have been ordered to transfer control of their competitions to their respective Chief Operating Officers.
Those COOs are NFF employees. Where a league’s current COO is not part of the federation’s staff, the acting general secretary will appoint a replacement from within the NFF.
Emmanuel Ikpeme will take over as acting general secretary, having become the federation’s most senior staff member after Mohammed Sanusi resigned as secretary general.
Ademola Olajire, previously the NFF’s director of media and communications, has been appointed interim deputy general secretary.
