FIFA has approved the establishment of a Normalisation Committee to oversee the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and prepare the ground for fresh elections to its Executive Committee.
The NFF confirmed the development in a statement, referring to a letter sent to Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme and signed by FIFA Secretary-General Mattias Grafström.
According to the letter, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will jointly select the committee’s members as soon as possible.
FIFA also stipulated that anyone appointed to the committee will be ineligible to contest the forthcoming NFF elections. Until the committee is formed, the NFF Secretariat will remain responsible for the federation’s routine administration and daily activities.
The move follows a period of upheaval in Nigerian football governance in August. Former NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s Executive Committee resigned.
The National Sports Commission subsequently named Ademola Olajire interim Deputy General Secretary and appointed Emmanuel Ikpeme as interim General Secretary.
The NFF’s elective congress was also postponed pending the completion of reforms. President Bola Tinubu called for a comprehensive review of Nigerian football administration, tasking the NSC with working alongside the NFF and engaging FIFA and CAF.
The committee’s appointment is an important opportunity to strengthen accountability and restore confidence in the federation’s electoral process. Its work should be conducted impartially, openly and in the best interests of Nigerian football.
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