By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has defended the Federal Government’s intervention in Nigeria’s domestic football league, describing it as a necessary step to reposition the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for sustainable growth and commercial success.
Speaking amid criticism over the government’s involvement in the league, Dikko said successful football leagues around the world benefited from public sector support in their formative years, stressing that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was providing the backing needed to transform the NPFL.
The former Chairman of the League Management Company (LMC) recalled that during his tenure from 2013 to 2022, the league received no direct government funding and, in some cases, officials allegedly discouraged private sponsors from partnering with the competition.
According to him, the current intervention is aimed at creating the right environment for the league to thrive, attract investment and improve the welfare of players and other stakeholders.
Dikko said the NSC had already demonstrated its ability to attract private investment into sports, citing the N5 billion sponsorship secured for the National Sports Festival. He argued that similar innovations and collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the NPFL could make the domestic league more attractive to investors.
He noted that the Commission’s N2.5 billion support package and efforts to improve the financial structure of the league were designed to enhance its commercial value and encourage greater private sector participation.
Drawing comparisons with leading football nations, Dikko said governments in countries such as the United Kingdom, South Africa and Morocco have continued to provide financial and infrastructural support to their domestic leagues, leading to increased economic returns and stronger football industries.
He expressed confidence that sustained investment in the NPFL would eventually boost Nigeria’s economy through increased tax revenues, job creation and the development of a truly professional football league.
Also speaking, NSC Director-General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, expressed confidence in Dikko’s ability to drive meaningful reforms, noting that his experience in managing the league positioned him to address its longstanding challenges.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, urged stakeholders and the media to support the Federal Government’s efforts to revive the domestic league rather than discourage the initiative.
Similarly, Chairman of the NPFL Club Owners Association, Sir Okey Kpaluku, welcomed the intervention, saying government support was essential to making the league attractive to investors and ensuring its long-term sustainability.
