Nigeria Nationwide League explains reasons for club registration price increase

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Nigeria Nationwide League (NLO), Sola Ogunowo says inflation has affected the registration of clubs for the third-tier league.

Last season, NLO clubs registered with 150,000 Naira and will now register with a sum of 25,000 Naira.

The Secretariat of the Nationwide League One (NLO) has released strict registration guidelines for clubs in Division One, as it prepares to kick start the 2023 season in April.

“This year there have been issues with players’ eligibility due to license. That alone will let you know that we are doing the right thing in the league. This year, we are going to charge 250,000 Naira for club registration. It has been approved by the NFF at the last Congress after which we submitted it.

“NFF has given us the permission to go ahead with it because prices of things have actually moved higher. The medical assessment that we are going to do, the price for the equipment is expensive and the Insurance policy is now higher.” Ogunowo told Brila FM.

The development of increment in registration fee arose after the  Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) directed the NLO Secretariat to commence registration for the 2023 season with amendments to registration charges after seven (7) years of maintenance due to current inflation in the prices of materials used for clubs’ registration.

The NLO has also warned that no club will be registered without payment of registration fees, as club registration closes on Monday 6th March 20223.

The two Hundred and fifty thousand naira (250,000) registration fees – Division One includes pre-competition medical assessment, comprehensive insurance cover for players and officials, tamper-proof hologram security seal, and other materials ( for 35 players and 7 officials).