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By Oscar Okhifo, Abuja Former governor of Anambra State and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has accused the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of failing to deliver on a promised FIFA-funded stadium project in Awka, the Anambra State capital. Obi, in a statement on his X platform on Monday, said his administration was informed that Anambra had been selected as one of six states approved for the construction of FIFA-standard stadiums fully financed by the world football governing body. He alleged that after the state provided land for the project, no further steps were taken to actualise it. “During my tenure as governor, officials of the football federation informed us that Anambra was chosen for a FIFA-funded Goal Project. We allocated land immediately, but that was the last we heard of it,” Obi said. The former governor expressed disappointment that the project never materialised, describing it as another example of corruption and poor accountability in Nigeria’s sports administration. He lamented that since 2013, the NFF had reportedly received over $25 million from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for sports development and youth programmes, yet had little or nothing to show for it. “FIFA’s recent revelation about the mismanagement of funds released to the NFF is both sickening and shameful. It perfectly mirrors the broader decay in how our scarce national resources are handled,” he added. Obi further cited a reported $1.2 million FIFA-funded stadium project in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, which he described as “a national embarrassment,” alleging that the facility’s condition does not reflect the amount claimed to have been spent. The former governor explained that due to the NFF’s failure to deliver on the Awka project, his administration resorted to constructing smaller stadiums, such as the Chuba Ikpeazu Memorial Stadium and the Godwin Achebe Stadium in Onitsha to promote grassroots sports development across the state. Reacting to the allegations, the NFF reportedly maintained that all funds received from FIFA and CAF are subject to strict monitoring, auditing, and compliance standards. The federation stated that its finances are audited annually by external auditors and that funds are tied to specific developmental purposes. Obi’s comments have reignited public debate about transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s sports management, particularly regarding international funding and infrastructure delivery. Observers say the controversy highlights deeper governance challenges within the country’s sports sector and underscores the need for greater oversight of funds meant for youth and grassroots development.
