Peter Obi blasts NFF over ‘mismanaged’ FIFA funds

Mr Peter Obi has criticised the mismanagement of funds meant for football development in Nigeria, calling it a reflection of the deeper corruption plaguing the country.

In a tweet on Monday morning, Obi expressed disappointment over FIFA’s recent revelation that funds released to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for stadium projects and youth talent development were mismanaged.

“While we continue to grapple with insecurity, poverty, and rising youth unemployment, the most heartbreaking reality remains the entrenched corruption that permeates every sector especially those that could lift Nigeria,” Obi tweeted.

He recalled that during his time as governor, Awka was selected as one of six locations for a FIFA-standard stadium, fully funded by FIFA. Land was allocated, and officials assured that the Federal Ministry of Sports would execute the project, a promise that was never fulfilled.

Believing the stadium project was underway, Obi said his administration invested in mini-stadiums across the state to promote grassroots sports, including the Chuba Ikpeazu Memorial Stadium and Godwin Achebe Stadium in Onitsha. Eventually, they had to construct the Awka Stadium themselves after the promised FIFA project never materialized.

Obi noted that since 2013, about $25 million has reportedly been received by the NFF from FIFA and CAF for football and youth development, yet very little is to show for it. He described the $1.2 million stadium in Kebbi State as a national embarrassment.

He further criticised leaders who accuse others of “demarketing” Nigeria for exposing corruption, saying the real demarketers are incompetent officials who mismanage and steal public funds, depriving youths of schools, healthcare, jobs, and sporting opportunities.

“Our youths are our most prized assets, yet we have destroyed their future and then turned around to label them ‘Yahoo boys,’” Obi tweeted. “The leaders who rob them are the real ‘Yahoo’ of our nation.”

Obi concluded by stressing that rebuilding Nigeria requires integrity and accountability in every sector. “Until then, our nation will continue to crawl where it should be soaring,” he said.