The House of Representatives has said that it would investigate the alleged mismanagement of the sum of $25 million that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) allegedly received from world football governing body FIFA, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) between 2015 and 2025.

The lawmakers, yesterday, adopted a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Adedayo Adesola (Lagos) and Felix Nwaeke (Rivers), demanding a full probe into the NFF’s handling of international football grants.

The motion, titled: “Misuse of FIFA and CAF Grants by the Nigerian Football Federation,” expressed concern that years of alleged financial irregularities within the NFF has contributed to the decline in the performance of Nigeria’s national teams.

The lawmakers alleged that repeated financial irregularities and lack of transparency within the federation had undermined public trust and contributed to Nigeria’s poor football performance.

Citing examples, Adesola recalled that in 2016, FIFA raised an audit query over the handling of a $1.1 million development grant by the NFF, noting that $802,000 of the amount lacked proper documentation. He added that this prompted the former Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, to order an independent audit and asked the NFF to account for receipts and disbursements.

“The House notes that between 2018 and 2019, NFF officials (including the then president, (Amaju Pinnick) faced public criticism and were subject to EFCC and ICPC probes and court actions tied to alleged mismanagement of various funds and sponsorship,” he said.

Adesola also referenced an alleged $1.2 million grant that the NFF allegedly used for the construction of the Birnin Kebbi Stadium, describing the facility as “substandard” and unworthy of the amount claimed to have been spent.

“One of these monies, a $1.2 million, is the subject of a news item currently trending on social media, which the NFF allegedly used to construct the Birnin Kebbi Stadium.”

“We are concerned that a physical inspection of the stadium in Birnin Kebbi showed that it is a substandard facility in terms of quality and quantity, which cannot justify the sum of $1.2 million claimed to have been spent on the project by the NFF.”