President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday in Abuja said his administration would pay keen interest to accountability and transparency to fast-track football development in the country.
The president stated this when he received Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) President, Gianni Infantino, and the Secretary-General, Fatma Samuora, at State House.
Buhari challenged football administrators to fashion out strategic programmes to develop the game.
While congratulating the duo on their election, particularly Samuora, the first African and female to be elected FIFA Secretary-General, he welcomed Infantino’s programme to reform football through transparency, anti-corruption and good governance.
He pledged Nigeria’s support to FIFA president’s reform agenda, noting that they were similar to those his presidency had outlined to resuscitate Nigeria.
‘‘Majority of Nigerians are married to football.
“In the rural areas, when there is no electricity and there is a game to watch, Nigerians go to the extent of renting small generators, popularly known as ‘I better-pass-my neighbour’ to watch the game.
‘‘We will take the development of football very seriously and I encourage the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to behave itself and organise effective competitions for the good of the game,’’ he said.
‘‘Accountability is serious business and I welcome you (Infantino) into the club of accountable Chief Executive Officers,’’ the President added.
Earlier, Infantino had asked the Nigerian authorities to pay attention to infrastructure and find a lasting solution to the problem of violence and insecurity at match venues.
‘‘I foresee Nigeria as a bedrock for the development of the game in Africa; however, infrastructure, stability and security are needed to make this happen, ’’ he said.
The FIFA officials were accompanied by the Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and President, Nigeria Olympic Committee, Habu Gumel.
Meanwhile, Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has appealed to warring factions in NFF to sheathe their swords in the interest of football development in the country.
Saraki gave this charge when Pinnick led Infantino and Samoura on a visit to the Senate.
He urged the NFF executive to seize the international recognition accorded Nigeria by the visit of FIFA leadership to put the crisis plaguing the association behind them.
“Apart from the major issue of reform and accountability, the key issue remains the development of our own football, and I think Africa, as you said, is the greatest place such can come from.
“We are going to play our own role in creating the enabling environment. I am happy that fellow presidents of football associations in different African countries are here.
“I think your visit clearly shows that you are keen and you want to work with us in Africa. We must play our own role and that is why we must give all the support we can.
“It gives me an opportunity to talk to the members of NFF that we must solve our problems.
“With this kind of world recognition we have today, the only thing we can do is to show example here in Nigeria how we think a football association should be run.
“A lot of you professionals sometimes blame politicians that when we lose elections we don’t want to accept. But now, we politicians are now reformed,” he said.
He urged members of the federation to accept election results whenever they lost and wait for the expiration of the tenure to re-contest.
He stressed that it was now very pertinent for NFF to move on, especially because of the citizens who are football lovers.
Earlier, Infantino said that he was happy to be in Nigeria in view of its passion for football, stressing that the passion should be cherished and protected.
He said that his visit was meant to underscore the importance of Nigeria and by extension, the African continent, in the development of world football.
“Nigeria is not only a big country but a great country: Africa is not only a big continent but a great continent.
“A great continent actually because it shares the great passion which is the passion I have for football.
“I was impressed yesterday coming from the airport to the city, to see how many people – boys, girls and kids – were playing football along the streets.
“You see that you don’t only love football, you really live football in this country.
“This must be cherished and protected; we need stability and unity to work in a serious way because Nigeria has a great tradition and a great passion for football.
“I was elected with a mandate for change, reform and to bring transparency and good governance into football and foster the development of football,” he said.
Also speaking, Pinnick called on the National Assembly to help to initiate laws that would lead to development and smooth administration of football in the country.
