NIGERIA: Obi Blasts NFF Over FIFA Fund Mismanagement, Says Corruption In Sports Mirrors Nigeria’s Decay

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria 

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has condemned what he described as entrenched corruption in Nigeria’s sports sector, following reports of massive mismanagement of funds released by FIFA to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for stadium development and youth talent promotion.

In a statement titled “Corruption in Sports: A Reflection of Nigeria’s Deeper Malaise”, Obi said the revelations from FIFA are “both sickening and shameful,” reflecting the wider rot in the nation’s governance and public finance management.

“FIFA’s recent revelation about the mismanagement of funds released to Nigeria’s Football Federation for stadium development and youth talent growth perfectly mirrors the broader decay in how our scarce national resources are handled,” Obi wrote.

The former Anambra State governor recalled that during his tenure, Awka was listed among six designated sites for the construction of FIFA-standard stadiums to be funded by the global football body. According to him, land was allocated for the project, but nothing was ever done.

“Believing that such a major project was underway, we channelled our resources toward constructing mini-stadiums across the state to encourage grassroots sports,” Obi said, citing the Chuba Ikpeazu Memorial Stadium and the Godwin Achebe Stadium in Onitsha as examples.

He expressed disappointment that, years later, there is “little or nothing to show” for the millions of dollars reportedly released by FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to Nigeria since 2013.

“Since 2013, about $25 million has reportedly been received by the NFF from FIFA and CAF — funds meant for the development of football and youth sports in our country. Yet, there is little or nothing to show for it. The so-called $1.2 million stadium in Kebbi State is a national embarrassment,” he lamented.

Obi accused Nigerian leaders of hypocrisy, saying those who accuse reformists of “demarketing” the country by exposing corruption are the true enemies of national progress.

“The real demarketers of Nigeria are the incompetent leaders who have forged their way to wealth through the mismanagement and theft of public funds — resources that should have been used to provide schools, healthcare, and employment for our youths,” he stated.

Obi further criticized the failure of leadership that has left Nigerian youths impoverished and frustrated.

“Our youths are our most prized assets, yet we have destroyed their future and then turned around to label them ‘Yahoo boys,’ when, in truth, the leaders who have robbed them of their future are the real ‘Yahoo’ of our nation,” he said.

Calling for urgent reforms, Obi stressed that Nigeria cannot make meaningful progress without transparency, integrity, and accountability in all sectors.

“This is yet another shameful reflection of the corruption we have allowed to take root in Nigeria. If we truly desire to rebuild our country, we must begin with integrity and accountability in every aspect and sector,” he said, ending his statement with his familiar slogan: “A New Nigeria is POssible.”