Mohammed Sanusi, the General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Thursday said the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) did not seize the federation’s consignments at the Apapa Ports.
Sanusi disclosed from his Abuja base via telephone that the consignment, which arrived at the Lagos port on September 4, was in the process of being cleared by the Customs.
According to him, the federation is following due process in the clearance of the jerseys and other equipment from its kitting company, Nike.
The inability of the NFF to clear a consignment of kits from its sponsors, Nike, at the Apapa Ports has resulted in shortage of kits for the various National teams.
The U-23 team, which participated at the football event of the 11th African Games, used only a set of jersey in Congo to prosecute their matches.
The General Secretary attributed delays in arrival of the consignment to change of the mode of transportation of the goods.
“One of the reasons for the delay in the early arrival of the consignment was due to change in the mode of transportation. Instead of the consignment arrival via air transportation, they were sent them by sea. I can assure that they are in the process of being cleared.
“I want to clarify the fact that the consignment has not been seized but are being cleared at the moment. We have been used to receiving the consignments by air but this time it came via shipment.
“The NFF is following due procedures to ensure the kits come out in time for our teams abroad,’’ Sanusi said.
The Golden Eaglets are presently in Argentina camping ahead of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. The FIFA World Cup in Chile will run from October 17 to November 8.
The players and officials have made passionate appeals to NFF for provision of more kits.
