FG disbursed N15bn to Pinnick-led NFF in 7 years — Sunday Dare

The Federal Government has since 2015 till date disbursed over N15 billion to Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) through budgetary appropriations and Presidential interventions, Sports Minister, Sunday Dare reveals.

He disclosed this after presenting a 10-year Football Development Masterplan to President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday in Abuja.

NewsWireNGR reports that the president of NFF since 2014 is Amaju Pinnick. He was first elected in September 2014 and re-elected for a second term on 20 September 2018.

He commended the president for the attention given to football development in the country and laying a solid foundation for the growth of the game.

The minister described the 10-year Masterplan, which took the Ibrahim Galadima -led 16-member Committee six months to prepare, as ”a world class document.”

He said the prescriptions set forth in the Football Masterplan, if followed through with the needed will and determination, would set Nigeria’s football on a very sure footing and position it amongst the best in the world.

He added that the implementation of the Plan would resolve most issues around the status of the domestication of Nigerian laws, NFF Statutes in line with FIFA Statutes and create room for harmonious relationships in the football value chain of this country.

Dare said: ”The Masterplan is envisioned to encapsulate functional strategies that would outlast the current administration and firmly place Nigerian football on the path to sustainable growth and development.

“Mr President, with your approval, this document will be presented to the Federal Executive Council for approval and future funding.

“So that the implementation of the short, medium and long term plans can commence as part of the legacies of this administration.

“Thereafter, this document will be handed over to our football administrators, that is the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, who shall be expected to implement key elements of these reports in stages.”