A federal lawmaker has sharply criticised the House of Representatives Committee on Sports for failing to produce a report on its investigation into the alleged misuse of more than $25 million in development grants that the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) received from global governing bodies FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), despite the assignment being laid before it more than two months ago.
The matter stems from a motion adopted by the House in October 2025, titled “Motion to stop further misuse of FIFA and CAF grants by Nigerian Football Federation”, co-sponsored by Hon. Adedayo Adesola of Apapa Federal Constituency, Lagos State, and Hon. Felix Nwaeke from Rivers State.
Adesola’s motion raised concerns that the NFF had allegedly received a total of more than $25m from FIFA and CAF between 2015 and 2025 without any commensurate development in Nigeria’s football infrastructure or grassroots sports programme, a situation he said had contributed to successive poor performances by Nigeria’s national teams.
Instead of setting up an ad-hoc panel specifically created to carry out the probe as recommended in the motion, the House directed the matter to its Sports Committee for further action and submission of recommendations to the full legislative chamber.
The committee was given four weeks to conclude its work and report back, but as of the week of January 15, 2026, no findings had been presented. The House had already adjourned for the Christmas and New Year break, leaving the subject unresolved.
Speaking exclusively on Thursday, Adesola, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), expressed frustration at the delay and urged the committee to urgently disclose its findings.
“Nigerians are interested in knowing the outcome of the committee’s findings. It’s over two months now since the Committee on Sports was given the assignment. So, where are we? What are the findings?” he asked.
Adesola also linked the delayed probe to broader concerns about the administration of football in Nigeria, particularly the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a development that he says carried significant financial consequences for the country.
“Nigerians are addicted to football. It is a game that knows no tribe or religion. However, the management of football in our beloved country has left much to be desired in recent years,” he said, noting that missing out on a World Cup berth meant forfeiting “huge earnings in appearance fees and other opportunities too numerous to mention.”
Adesola emphasised that transparency and accountability in the handling of development funds are critical to restoring confidence among football fans and stakeholders across the nation.
“The leadership of the committee should let Nigerians know the details of its findings on the alleged mismanagement of the $25m. The earlier this is done, the better,” he added.
The allegations against the NFF are not new. In December 2016, FIFA reportedly queried the handling of a $1.1 million development grant, finding that $802,000 lacked proper documentation, leading then-Sports Minister Solomon Dalung to order an independent audit and ask the federation to account for receipts and expenditures.
Furthermore, Nigeria’s football administration has faced repeated criticism from former players, sports advocates, and public commentators, who argue that mismanagement of funds has weakened domestic football development and undermined international competitiveness.
With the National Assembly scheduled to resume plenary sessions on January 27, 2026, observers expect the controversy, and calls for swift action, to intensify. Adesola’s intervention may prompt renewed deliberations in the House and potentially a reopening of the investigation, unless the Sports Committee publishes its long-awaited report.
Political analysts and football stakeholders alike will be watching closely to see whether the probe leads to concrete steps toward accountability and reform in the governance of football in Nigeria.
