FCT FA Chairman Lauds Rise Of Private Clubs In NPFL

Abba Mouktar Mohammed, Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Football Association, has lauded the increasing prominence of privately owned clubs in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), calling it a significant enhancement for the development of football in the country.

During a media briefing with sports journalists in Abuja, Mouktar emphasised the favourable environment established in Lagos State, which has allowed privately owned clubs to thrive and successfully compete at the pinnacle of Nigerian football.

“I am genuinely impressed with the developments in Lagos State and the NPFL,” he remarked. “Last season, the privately owned Remo Stars F.C. clinched the league title, and now clubs like Inter Lagos FC, Sporting Lagos FC, Ranchers Bees FC, and Doma United FC are poised to join the NPFL. This will elevate the number of privately owned clubs in the top tier to eight—an unprecedented milestone in the history of Nigerian football.”

Mouktar underscored the necessity for enhanced private-sector involvement in football development within the Federal Capital Territory, pointing out that government-owned clubs often encounter financial and administrative constraints.

“We are keen to attract more private investors to the FCT because government-owned clubs can only achieve so much. Given their numerous responsibilities, it becomes challenging for them to consistently compete with well-funded and professionally managed teams. Private investment is vital if Abuja is to realise its ambition of nurturing a formidable NPFL side once again,” he stated.

The FCT FA chairman also mentioned that intentional efforts have been made to foster an environment conducive to football development, highlighting the growing number of well-structured football academies emerging across the territory.

“We have laid the groundwork by creating the right conditions, which is why we are witnessing a surge in properly structured academies. What we need now is for investors to step in, support these initiatives, and help elevate football development in the FCT to the next level,” he concluded.