Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has come down hard on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) following recent revelations by the world football governing body, FIFA, which uncovered massive corruption, mismanagement, and diversion of funds allocated for the Goal Project across various states in Nigeria.
In a lengthy statement shared via his X handle on Monday, the former Anambra State governor expressed deep disappointment, describing the scandal as “sickening, disgraceful, and a reflection of the chronic rot in Nigeria’s public institutions.” He stated that the revelations from FIFA once again show how corruption continues to destroy opportunities for development, even in sectors like sports that should unite and uplift the nation.
“A mirror of Nigeria’s chronic mismanagement”
According to Obi, the Goal Project, which was designed by FIFA to improve football infrastructure, develop youth talent, and strengthen local leagues, has instead become a channel for greed and mismanagement by those entrusted with public responsibility. He noted that FIFA’s audit report, which detailed how funds earmarked for stadium construction and youth academies were misused or unaccounted for, exposes the entrenched corruption culture that has crippled Nigeria’s development for decades.
He added that while Nigeria continues to face challenges such as insecurity, unemployment, and economic instability, it is corruption that remains the greatest enemy of national progress. “It is corruption, not lack of resources, that keeps our young people jobless and our athletes without adequate training facilities,” he lamented.
The former governor recalled that during his administration, Awka was chosen as one of six locations for a FIFA-standard stadium under the Goal Project, and the Anambra State government provided land for the initiative. However, despite repeated assurances from both the NFF and the Federal Ministry of Sports, the project was never implemented, leaving the land unused and the promise of development unfulfilled.
He said further investigation into the matter could expose deeper layers of corruption than what FIFA’s report has already revealed, emphasizing that Nigerians must demand transparency and accountability from those in charge of sports administration.
Corruption in Sports: A Reflection of Nigeria’s Deeper Malaise
While we continue to grapple with insecurity, poverty, and the rising unemployment among our youths, the most heartbreaking reality remains the entrenched corruption that permeates every facet of our nation -… pic.twitter.com/cdVTtIo0j0
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) October 27, 2025
“A national disgrace and betrayal of public trust”
Obi criticized the NFF for squandering resources meant to empower Nigeria’s sports industry, describing the situation as “a betrayal of trust and a national disgrace.” He expressed particular outrage over the recently reported $1.2 million stadium project in Kebbi State, which FIFA auditors described as substandard and grossly overvalued. According to Obi, the facility does not justify even a fraction of the funds claimed to have been spent on it, saying such waste and deceit rob Nigerian youths of opportunities to develop their talents.
He said that during his time in office, believing that the FIFA-backed project would move forward, his administration had already begun constructing smaller stadiums across the state — such as the Chuba Ikpeazu Memorial Stadium, the Godwin Achebe Stadium, and others — to nurture grassroots sports and create opportunities for local players. When it became obvious that the FIFA project had stalled, he went ahead to initiate the construction of the Awka Township Stadium to ensure Anambra’s youths still benefited from modern sports facilities.
Commenting further, Obi said corruption in the sports sector mirrors what happens in other key areas such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure. He argued that those who loot funds meant for national projects are the real “demarketers” of Nigeria, not citizens who speak out against injustice or misrule. “The real demarketers are those who steal funds meant for schools, hospitals, and youth development programs,” he said.
Obi also pointed out that the NFF has received approximately $25 million from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) since 2013 to promote football growth and youth development in Nigeria, but with little or nothing to show for it. “These funds could have transformed local sports infrastructure and created thousands of jobs for young athletes,” he lamented.
Calling for immediate investigations, Obi urged both FIFA and Nigerian anti-corruption agencies to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. He stressed the need for total reform of sports governance structures in Nigeria, noting that integrity, transparency, and accountability must become the foundation for rebuilding trust in public institutions.
“Until we start holding people accountable for the funds they manage, Nigeria will continue to suffer from this endless cycle of corruption,” Obi concluded, urging the federal government to take decisive action against those involved in the scandal.