President Muhammadu Buhari has said football remains the number one sport in Nigeria and a national asset, saying his administration will resist any attempt to undermine its development

Buhari made the pledge in Abuja on Tuesday while receiving the 10-year Football Development Masterplan submitted by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare.

The President, who described football as “our passion and a major tool for unity”, said it is the responsibility of the government to safeguard the sport, which has brought Nigeria many laurels, and “treat it as a national asset”.

“’Indeed, just as I expect and demand a higher standard of patriotism, responsibility and commitment from those charged with the administration of our football, I also urge all stakeholders to work together constructively and patriotically.

“We have seen attempts to disrespect and undermine the institutions supervising our sports. We have seen attempts to subjugate national interest for narrow interest or disrespect the laws of Nigeria. Nigeria will not take lightly any attempt to inflict injury on its football fortunes,” Buhari was quoted as saying in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina.

President Buhari, who used the occasion to spell out his expectations from the two-volume report, directed the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to commence its implementation in phases, within the fine lines of relevant sections of the Nigerian laws on sports development and the statutes of the world football governing body, FIFA.

He said: “This government is interested in developing a football culture that will accommodate global best practices that will also help the nation to lay a solid foundation for her domestic football, put in place professionally and efficiently run leagues, entrench a consistent and stable football calendar and create a value chain which will boost the sports ecosystem.

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“Achieving this will guarantee desired progress in continental and international competitions.

“I know that a lot of work went into putting this 10-Year Masterplan together. I received regular briefings on the work being done and I am happy that our goal has been achieved. I am happy that the Masterplan enjoyed the inputs of a wide range of stakeholders in football.

“I am equally happy that the Nigeria Football 10-Year Masterplan (2022-2032) identified Fifteen (15) Key Areas of challenge and provided practical recommendations to address these fundamental problems that have bedeviled football development in the country.

“The implementation of the short-term and medium-term plans should commence.

“I believe this will signal a positive turning point for our football and a major step forward in our bid to create a conducive environment for its sustainability, viability, and profitability.

“The Nigeria Football Federation, the body charged with the development of our football is directed to own and commence the implementation of this master plan under the supervision of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.”

On the forthcoming NFF executive election, President Buhari reiterated his earlier communication to the body on the need for a more equitable and democratic representation in the Congress of the NFF.

According to him, this will ensure that critical stakeholders are not shut out and the most capable and competent men and women are elected to run the affairs of the Federation.

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“This government has demonstrated political will. It will match it up with making the right laws and investments and work with critical stakeholders.

“I thank FIFA for its support and commitment to the development of Nigerian football which has been longstanding. I trust it will partner with Nigeria in its effort to improve the fundamentals of its football development,” the President added.

In his remarks, the Sports Minister announced that President Buhari’s administration has disbursed over N15 billion to NFF through budgetary appropriations and presidential interventions in the last seven years.

Commending the President for the attention to football development in the country and laying a solid foundation for the growth of the game, Dare described the 10-year Masterplan, which took the Ibrahim Galadima-led 16-member committee six months to prepare, as “a world-class document”.

Dare further pledged that the ministry would monitor the implementation of the Masterplan to ensure that attention is paid to the business opportunities along the value chain, governance structure, standardisation, and prioritisation of the welfare of footballers, education, and awareness.

The Star