Reps To Investigate NFF Over Alleged Mismanagement Of $25 Million FIFA CAF Grants $12m Kebbi Stadium Project

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Nigeria’s House of Representatives has taken steps to examine the financial activities of the Nigeria Football Federation, following allegations involving millions of dollars in international football grants and a controversial stadium project in Kebbi State.

The decision came after lawmakers adopted a motion classified as one of urgent public importance during plenary. The motion, backed by Adedayo Adesola and Felix Nwaeke, called for a detailed review of how funds received from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football have been managed over the years.

According to Gossip News Now, lawmakers believe the issue goes beyond accounting concerns and may be connected to the broader decline seen in Nigerian football. Concerns raised during the session suggested that development money meant to strengthen the sport may not have been properly applied to the growth of national teams and football infrastructure.

In presenting the motion, Adesola pointed to past red flags that had already surrounded the federation’s finances. One of the major references was FIFA’s 2016 audit concern involving a development grant valued at $1.1 million, out of which $802,000 was reportedly left unexplained. That controversy had earlier triggered an independent audit directive from former Sports Minister Solomon Dalung.

The lawmaker also revisited separate corruption-related allegations that drew the attention of anti-graft agencies between 2018 and 2019. During that period, former NFF president Amaju Pinnick and other senior officials came under scrutiny from the EFCC and ICPC over claims linked to fund diversion, questionable sponsorship arrangements, and financial misconduct.

Another major issue raised before the House involved reports surrounding the construction of a mini-stadium in Birnin Kebbi. The project, said to have cost $1.2 million, is now facing fresh questions after observations reportedly suggested that the completed facility did not reflect the amount allegedly spent on it.

Lawmakers expressed dissatisfaction with the standard and size of the stadium, arguing that the structure seen on ground failed to match the scale of expenditure being associated with the project. That concern has now become one of the central aspects of the proposed investigation.

The debate also drew strength from earlier criticisms made by former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh, who had publicly questioned the way football development funds were handled in Nigeria. He had, at one point, challenged the football authorities over the use of money reportedly received for the country’s 2002 World Cup preparations, insisting that such funding should have translated into clearer progress.

With major international fixtures such as AFCON preparations and World Cup qualifying campaigns on the horizon, the House stressed that financial transparency in football administration can no longer be treated lightly. Lawmakers maintained that proper accountability is necessary if Nigeria hopes to rebuild trust and improve performance in the sport.

After deliberations, the motion received full support in the chamber under the leadership of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. The House then agreed to set up a special committee that will investigate the federation’s financial records from 2015 to the present.

As part of the resolution, NFF officials are expected to appear before the investigative panel with comprehensive documentation covering grants, receipts, and expenditure records linked to funds received from FIFA and CAF. The planned probe is expected to determine whether the allegations reflect isolated discrepancies or a deeper pattern of financial mismanagement.

Commentary and Analysis

This development is significant because it places football governance in Nigeria under renewed legislative scrutiny at a time when public trust in sports administration remains fragile. When large development grants are involved, citizens naturally expect visible progress in infrastructure, youth systems, and national team performance.

The proposed investigation may also become a defining moment for accountability in Nigerian football. If the probe is transparent and evidence-driven, it could help clarify years of unanswered questions and set a stronger standard for how sports funds are monitored in the future.

Beyond the politics, the core issue is credibility. Nigerian football continues to command massive public interest, and any suggestion that key funds were mishandled is likely to attract strong reactions. The outcome of the House probe could therefore influence not only the NFF’s reputation, but also public confidence in the administration of the game nationwide.