***Gusau, Sanusi, board members resign

***Pinnick, Musa Amadu, Soname split NSC, as Congress meets ahead of normalisation committee

*** September 27 elective Congress uncertain

By Ezeocha Nzeh

The week long controversy over the fate of the Ibrahim Musa Gusau-led board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has temporarily come to an end with the eventual resignation of the Zamfara state-born football administrator and the entire board of the federation

The call for Gusau’s exit was highthened after the Super Falcon disgraceful defeat by first timers, Malawi and their final elimination by Cameroon at the last Woman African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

The defeat, which also denied the Nigerian women football team a ticket for the next FIFA Women World Cup, was greeted with criticisms from several quarter, thereby escalating the call for the board’s resignation

Inspired by the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC), the first stage of the push for the board’s resignation was the dragging of the board members to the presidency, by the NSC to force their resignation.

As if that did not yield the NSC desired result, the NFF leadership was immediately dragged before the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt and other Financial Crimes Practices Commission (ICPC), who immediately commenced investigations over the spending of N17 billion released by the federal government to the NFF in 2024 for the payment of the allowances of the various national teams.

As the alleged forceful impeachment moves were followed by threats of a possible FIFA ban on Nigeria, and growing concerns that such development could affect the participation of other cadres of the nation’s national teams from international tournaments, the anti NFF actors, in their determination to ensure the board’s resignation, drafted the nation’s security agencies, with the Directorate of State Security (DSS) and National Intelligence Agency (NIA) alleging the involvement of some NFF officials with foreign interests to undermine national security.

The Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) immediately commenced investigation into the allegations that some top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are working with foreign interests to undermine Nigeria’s national security.

Sources said the two intelligence agencies had intercepted what was described as “highly disturbing” communications between some NFF officials and foreign nationals, which were considered capable of creating security challenges for the country.

The whole drama, which had dragged for over one week, however, came to halt, as Gusau and the NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi announced their resignation from the football house on Thursday. This was immediately followed by other board members.

Gusau announced his decision during a World Press Conference at the NFF Secretariat in Abuja, bringing an end to days of speculation over his future.

He said the decision followed extensive consultations with his family, friends and stakeholders in Nigerian football, adding that he had communicated his decision to members of the Executive Committee and advised them to also consider their positions.

However, he stressed that each member would independently decide whether to remain in office or follow his decision to step aside.

Reflecting on his tenure, Gusau said he was leaving with satisfaction over what he described as measurable progress in several areas of Nigerian football.

“These three years and eleven months did not just come like that. At least we have something that we can tell Nigerians and the world that we have achieved for the little opportunity we had during this period.

“My resignation is intended to give way to a comprehensive and orderly reform process aimed at addressing the longstanding institutional, governance and developmental challenges confronting Nigerian football,” he said

The resignations have further thrown the NFF into more confusion as the board had already inaugurated an electoral committee to conduct elections into the next board as the Gusau-led board would have completed its first four years term on September 27, 2026. The fate of the proposed elective congress is now uncertainty, even as the committee had commenced screening of aspirants.

Further more, the resignation of the President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Ibrahim Gusau, Mohammad Sanusi and other board members, has left a vacuum in the administration of the NFF, even as stakeholders have intensified lobbying ahead of the announcement of a Normalisation Committee as contained in FIFA statutes governing football across the globe.

It was gathered that intense lobbying has ensued with the National Sports Commission (NSC) henchmen divided or for the choice of the chairman of the committee, which would be expected to oversee the affairs of the NFF for the next three months before a fresh election would be conducted to fill the vacuum created by the exit of Gusau and the other board members.

DISCLOSURE News gathered at the NFF that two names have been pencilled down for the job, with the NSC chairman, Shehu Dikko backing one, while the Director General is behind the other.

National Sports Commission, NSC, chieftains are at loggerheads over who to name Normalisation Committee Chairman.

Sources disclosed yesterday that former NFF chairman, Amanu Pinnick and former General Secretary, Musa Amadu, as well as the proprietor of Remo Stars and Beyond Limits FC, Kunle Soname are tipped for the job.

Amaju, Pinnick, a former FIFA executive committee member was a two-term president of the NFF from 2014 to 2022, when he handed over to Gusau, while Musa Amadu served as General Secretary during the administration of former president, Aminu Maigari. He is currently an aide to the NSC chairman, Shehu Dikko

It was gathered that while the NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, is unrepentantly pushing for Musa Amadu to be considered as the chairman of the normalisation committee, the Director-General, Bukola Olopade prefers Pinnick to return to the NFF to chair the committee

Another powerful group, it was further gathered, prefers a fresh person among the private and independent football club owners to bring in the desired reforms in Nigerian football.

This group, our correspondent gathered, has sent a “Save our Football” message to authorities, dropping the name Kunle Soname for appointment as chairman of the normalisation committee .

Meanwhile, the NFF Congress was summoned to an emergency meeting in Abuja on Thursday, amid concerns over the current developments within the football governing body.

The meeting, which was contained in an invitation signed by the Chairman of Gombe state Football Association, Yakubu Sarma and addressed to all NFF Congress members, is expected to focus on issues surrounding the functioning of the NFF Executive Committee and its secretariat.

According to the invitation, the proposed agenda includes discussions on the “current developments” within the NFF, the status and functioning of the federation’s Executive Committee and secretariat, as well as the implications of recent developments for the governance, stability and independence of the federation.

The Congress will also consider “appropriate measures” under the statutes of the NFF, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA, before deliberating on the way forward.

Those invited include State Football Association chairmen, club representatives, members of the Referees Association, Coaches Association, Players Union and the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA).

“Your presence is mandatory,” the invitation stated, urging members to confirm their attendance.

*** Faults fake declaration after 16 years

***Says agency existence dates back to 2010

***, Stakeholders blame weak civil service, bureaucratic system

By Eze Nnadi

The National Coordinator and Executive Director of the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office, George Nwabueze, has faulted the declaration of the agency as fake by the federal government, saying the commission’s existence pre dates the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

The embattled coordinator, who insisted that all documents that facilitated the creation of the agency were genuinely issued by the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), noted that it has been in existence since 2010

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), had last week declared the National Brands Development and Made in Nigeria Special Project Office as a fake federal agency.

The ICPC declaration followed a wider investigation, following the controversy that trailed the operations of another alleged ‘fake” agency , the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council ( PFIPC).

The ICPC in its investigation, alleged that the office had been allocated space within the OSGF premises without presidential authorisation .

It also identified George Nwanieze as the promoter of the alleged fake agency.

Nwanieze has, however, denied the fake proclamation of the agency by the ICPC, insisting that it is legitimate , adding that the existence and office allocation at the premises of the DGF were done with full recognition by the federal government arm.

Nwanieze, who went further to post series of documents on his Instagram and Linkedin pages on Sunday, to justify the agency’s recognition by the federal government, says that the agency has been in existence since 2010,, adding that it pre dates the current All Progressives Congress (APC) administration of President Bola Tinubu, while displaying documents issued on July 19, 2010, purportedly by the OSGF to justify its links with the office.

He similarly displayed letters, referenced NIG@ 50/S. 7/C,3/45 and signed by one Dominic Y.E. for the SGF, which was addressed to “Buchi George,” then “Executive Director of The Hats Centre” in Owerri, Imo State.

The letter, titled, “RE: ENDORSEMENT OF OUR PROJECT, MADE IN NAIJA, TO BE HELD IN IRELAND,” the letter acknowledged receipt of a proposal dated July 16, 2010, seeking endorsement of a “Made in Naija” project to be held in Ireland as part of Nigeria’s 50th anniversary..

It read, “I am directed to acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 16 July 2010 on the above subject and inform you that you should forward your proposal to the Nigerian High Commission in Ireland for possible consideration.

“Please accept the assurances of the warm regards of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.”

He therefore queried what he described as the sudden declaration of the agency as fake, after its 16 years of existence.

He stated, “History and facts, from Made in naija since 15th June 2010 to made in nigeria project office that is since 16 years in same OSGF Office.

“How can you discover a 16 years programme in 2026, it means you have been blind, we are committed to the national development.”

Meanwhile, Nwabueze subsequently posted graphics bearing the office’s logo and promoting its activities.

One graphic carried the slogans, “Localise national products, industrialise Nigeria,” “Our products. Our pride. Our progress,” and calls to “Create,” “Boost local economy,” “Reduce import dependency,” and “Build a stronger Nigeria.”

The coordinator, who denied the allegation, insisted that the office was a project office under the OSGF and had existed for 16 years.

This is as stakeholders have blamed what they described as Nigeria’s weak civil service and bureaucratic structure for the alleged multiplicity of the operation of alleged fake federal government agencies in the country

A former Permanent Secretary of the Federation Civil Service Commission, Goke Adeboroye, ssid the development exposes significant weaknesses in the country’s bureaucratic system.

Adeboroye, who blamed a decayed bureaucratic system, said the incident raised serious questions about how an individual could allegedly gain entry into the government system, secure an appointment, access budgetary provisions and obtain office space without the relevant authorities detecting the irregularities.

“The exposure of that fake presidential agency is a major lapse to say that somebody can actually come into the system, get in on the budget, get offices, and all of that,” he said during an interview on Channels Television’s Inside Sources.

He blamed key offices within the Presidency and government, as well as the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service for the lapses, earning that the offices must be sufficiently capable of helping the President implement his policies while also providing the necessary checks to prevent fraudulent or unlawful directives from gaining effect.

“The bureaucracy in those offices are not strong enough to be able to help the President drive the vision at the speed and with the efficiency that he wants

“The political office holders are principals to the bureaucracy, and a lot of times, the bureaucracy takes directives from them,” he noted

By Nkem Okereh (With agency report)

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has described the recent killings and abductions in parts of Nigeria’s North-Central region as regrettable, warning that Nigeria must not be allowed to be a killing field.

Obi, who made the remarks through a post on his X handle on Sunday, called on governments at all levels to take urgent action to protect vulnerable communities.

The former Anambra state governor described the spate of attacks in Benue, Plateau and Niger states as a national security emergency, warning that Nigeria must not allow the worsening violence to become the norm.

He said the attacks in the three North-Central states were part of a wider pattern of insecurity across the country and should no longer be treated as isolated incidents.

This is as troops of Sector 8, Operation ENDURING PEACE, have reportedly foiled an attempted attack on Manja community in Mangu Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The incident happened on Saturday, after troops received reports of the movement of armed men suspected to be planning an attack on the community.

Obi wrote: “What is happening to our country? In recent days, deadly attacks have struck Benue, Plateau and Niger States, three contiguous states in Nigeria’s North-Central region.

“In Mangu, Plateau State, at least 23 people were officially reported killed in the Jwak Maitumbi attack, while residents put the toll above 30. More than 45 houses were reportedly destroyed.

“In Borgu, Niger State, recent attacks reportedly killed over 40 people and abducted more than 100, though the figures remain contested. This comes amid continuing violence in Benue, where communities face repeated killings, abductions and the destruction of homes and livelihoods.”

The NDC presidential candidate, who regretted that Nigerians were being attacked in their communities despite the country not being officially at war, urged the government to strengthen security measures, improve intelligence gathering and rapid-response capabilities, rescue abducted Nigerians and ensure that those responsible for the attacks are arrested and prosecuted.

Nigeria is not officially at war, yet citizens are being attacked in their villages, abducted after prayers, driven from their homes and stripped of their farms

“I urge governments at all levels to wake up to their responsibility and take urgent and decisive action to end this madness once and for all,

“Government must protect vulnerable communities, improve intelligence and rapid-response capabilities, rescue abducted Nigerians, and arrest and prosecute those responsible.

“We cannot keep counting bodies after every attack. We must prevent these attacks before they happen.

“Protecting lives and property is the most basic duty of government. Nigerians deserve nothing less. Nigeria must not become a killing field,” Obi stated.

Meanwhile, according to the report, the troops quickly moved into the area and their intervention forced the suspected attackers to retreat into nearby bushes with their cattle.

Security forces also carried out offensive patrols and clearance operations across the area to prevent further attempts to enter the community.

Sources said troops were continuing operations around Manja and neighbouring communities to maintain pressure on the suspected attackers and ensure the safety of residents