The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Sports, Kabiru Amadu, has clarified that the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) does not build or construct standard stadiums for any nation, countering widespread misconceptions surrounding the controversial Kebbi Stadium Project.
Speaking on Channels Television on Wednesday, Amadu said FIFA’s role in member-nations’ football development is limited to providing grants under the FIFA Forward Programme, which can be used for smaller-scale infrastructure or technical development, not full-scale stadium construction.
“According to the rules of FIFA, FIFA cannot build or construct a stadium for any nation,” Amadu said. “A stadium to the standard of the one that is being compared from Kenya, no, no, FIFA will not do that. FIFA will only develop football. They have this football development grant, that is what they call it.”
The lawmaker’s clarification followed a wave of criticism that erupted after FIFA shared a photo on social media showing an unfinished mini-stadium in Kebbi State, being part of a $1.2 million project under the FIFA Forward initiative. The image sparked outrage among Nigerians who questioned how the funds were used and demanded accountability from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
While the NFF has repeatedly maintained that all FIFA funds were “properly accounted for” and tied strictly to approved projects, critics have continued to alleged mismanagement.
Amadu, however, dismissed comparisons between the Kebbi project and Kenya’s modern FIFA-funded stadium, saying such expectations were unrealistic given the scale of the funding involved.
“You can choose what you want to do, a mini stadium like this one that our NFF decided to do. You can also undergo training of coaches or players, whatever you decide, but not to construct a very, very standard stadium like that of Kenya,” he explained.
“If you look at it, there is no way on earth that 1.2 million U.S. dollars can construct that kind of a stadium. There is no way.”
He further stressed the need for Nigerians to be “realistic” about what FIFA grants can achieve.
“If you want to do justice and you want to be realistic about the current situation of the world, there is no way 1.2 million can construct that kind of a stadium,” he said.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives on Tuesday resolved to set up a special committee to investigate FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) grants amounting to $25 million reportedly given to the NFF for various football development programmes.
The controversy has reignited the #SaveNigerianFootball campaign, as fans and civil society groups continued to demand greater transparency and accountability in the management of sports funds.
