Shehu Dikko Breaks Silence: FIFA, Not NFF, Managed $1.19m Kebbi Stadium Project

The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has provided clarity on the controversy surrounding the $1.19 million FIFA-funded mini-stadium project in Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Dikko explained that the project was managed solely by FIFA and not the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), as widely speculated. He emphasized that the NFF had no financial control over the project, serving only as a facilitator by providing land for construction.

According to him, FIFA supervised every aspect of the project—from the bidding process and contractor selection to payment—leaving no room for the NFF to handle or disburse funds. “I was the first to deliver a FIFA Goal project in Nigeria, so I know how these projects work. FIFA directly appoints and pays contractors, while the NFF’s role is simply to provide land and specify requirements,” Dikko explained.

His remarks came amid widespread public criticism following a FIFA social media post in 2023 showing the Birnin-Kebbi stadium in an incomplete state, sparking concerns about potential fund mismanagement. Dikko dismissed these claims, insisting that no funds were diverted or misused.

He attributed the delays and current appearance of the facility to exchange rate fluctuations and bureaucratic setbacks that affected the project timeline. “This project was approved in 2015 and procurement began in 2016. The value of the dollar then compared to now explains a lot about the funding gap,” he said.

Dikko noted that the project faced documentation and land acquisition delays, which postponed commencement until 2020 when FIFA’s selected contractor finally began work. He stressed that FIFA maintains strict oversight throughout its development initiatives, ensuring accountability in each phase.

He further clarified that the viral image of the site represented only the first phase of construction. “People saw the picture and concluded it was abandoned, but that was just the initial stage,” he added.

The Birnin-Kebbi mini-stadium, part of FIFA’s Forward Programme, has remained a focal point in ongoing discussions about transparency in Nigeria’s sports administration. According to Ireporter Online, the House of Representatives Committee on Sports has already launched an investigation into the management of FIFA and CAF funds by the NFF, with the Kebbi project now a major focus of the inquiry.