Only NFF Can Explain Why They Lack Funds - Ex-Sports Minister

Only NFF Can Explain Why They Lack Funds - Ex-Sports Minister

By Abayomi Ademetan

Former Minister for Youth and Sports Development in Nigeria Hon, Solomon Dalung have revealed why the Nigeria Football Federation led by Amaju Pinnick cannot suffer paucity of funds.

Speaking with journalists on Nigeria foremost WhatsApp platform NSM Rebranded, the former Minister stated that the Nigeria football federations will be better suited to explain why they suffer paucity of fund adding that every footballing activities is been funded by the three major sponsors, namely, Federal Government of Nigeria, World Football Governing body (FIFA) and the host state and the football federation sponsors.

According to him, “Paucity of funds in NFF can properly explained by them, but i think NFF have no good reason to suffer paucity of funds,” he fired.

He continues by expatiating on why its very difficult to believe that NFF are broke sometimes, “Every footballing activities is funded by three sources the federal government would fund it, if it is an international competition FIFA would fund it, and then the state government and Sponsor will also fund it.

“One will always be wondering why there is this much paucity of funds in NFF, throughout my tenure as a minister of youth and sport development, every single activity of the NFF are always prioritised.

“Any National team going for competition the federal government will fund everything completely, the NFF will present the budget that will include everything from the beginning to the end of the competition and this funds are always released sometimes they may be delay but this funds are always released and through out my tenure they were all released.

“FIFA also funded all this competitions because this is one of the discovery i made at the terminal days in office when i met with one of the officials of FIFA, and of the women football of FIFA who gave me a complete breakdown of the contributions of Fifa to every competition.

“So every competition Nigeria is involved in, FIFA would fund it, what you now have is the problem if multiple budgeting, so the federal government will be given a budget they will fund, FIFA will send the same funding and then sponsors and state government will also fund it.

He further stated that the Nigeria Football Federation have no acceptable reason not to discharge their obligation.

“I always wonder why NFF is always in paucity of funds maybe they will be in a better position to explain what they have been doing with their funds, they have no single acceptable reasons why they will not be able to discharge their obligations, this fund is provided by the federal government and the federal government have been diligently delivering on his responsibilities, FIFA as an international body has also been doing their part, our sponsors have also been very prompt and supportive, so i think NFF are in a better position to explain to us why they always have this problem of paucity of funds,” he concluded.