Speaking to Arise TV, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, revealed detailed figures of Federal Government funding disbursed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over the past 12 years.
Dikko stated that during Amaju Pinnick’s tenure (2014–2022), the Federal Government provided the NFF with a total of ₦15 billion.
He further disclosed that the immediate past NFF administration, led by Ibrahim Gusau, received a one‑time payment of ₦17 billion from President Bola Tinubu, in addition to other allocations, indicating that the current Federal Government has provided more than five times the amount received under the previous administration. According to Dikko, this massive increase in funding was one of the reasons reforms became necessary.
Here was his statement:
I warned them very clearly, you either carry out the reforms internally as required by law, or somebody else will have to do it for you. They didn’t heed the advice.
This statement comes as Dikko addressed the crisis at the NFF, where the board led by President Ibrahim Gusau resigned on 27 August 2026, with FIFA officially accepting the resignation on 1 September 2026, a development that has placed even more spotlight on the Falconets, who are currently competing at the 2026 U‑20 Women’s World Cup.
