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NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko dismisses allegations over FIFA Goal Project in Kebbi
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko, has dismissed recent insinuations surrounding the FIFA Goal Project in Kebbi State, describing them as misleading and politically motivated.
Speaking on the issue, Dikko — who revealed that he was the first Nigerian to oversee a FIFA Goal Project in the country — affirmed that the Kebbi facility was executed in strict compliance with due process and fully met FIFA standards before commissioning.
“I was the first person to handle a FIFA Goal Project in Nigeria, hence I can speak to the Kebbi project issue,” he said. “The project was advertised as reflected on the requisite website before it was awarded. It totally followed due process and was certified and commissioned by FIFA.”
The NSC chairman clarified that FIFA released $1.2 million (about ₦300 million at the time) for the project and that every expenditure was properly documented and accounted for.
Dikko cautioned against comparing the Kebbi project with the Nairobi Football Centre currently being developed by the Kenyan government, stressing that the latter is a separate government-funded facility valued at over $300 million.
“It is absurd to juxtapose the Kebbi project and that of the Nairobi project being put in place by the Kenyan government at over $300 million,” Dikko emphasized.
He urged journalists and stakeholders to verify information before publication, warning that unverified reports could harm national sports development and distract from more urgent objectives, such as Nigeria’s qualification campaign for the FIFA World Cup.
“As professionals, I advise that you always seek clarification and check before you jump into conclusion,” he cautioned. “Is it this time we are struggling to qualify for the FIFA World Cup that we should be spreading unverified stories based on politics and other issues?”
Dikko reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and global compliance in all sports infrastructure projects, assuring Nigerians that the Kebbi FIFA Goal Project remains a model of integrity and due process.
