The Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, has decried the mismanagement of funds released to Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) by appointed officials to develop stadium and grow youth talents.
Mr. Obi made the remarks on his X handle, @PeterObi, on Monday, October 27, 2025, following FIFA’s recent revelation about the mismanagement of funds released to NFF.
Obi noted that ‘corruption in sports is a reflection of Nigeria’s deeper malaise’
He said that the sickening and shameful revelation perfectly mirrors the broader decay in national resources management.
Obi posted: “While we continue to grapple with insecurity, poverty, and the rising unemployment among our youths, the most heartbreaking reality remains the entrenched corruption that permeates every facet of our nation – especially in the critical sectors that could help lift Nigeria in these challenging times.
“FIFA’s recent revelation about the mismanagement of funds released to Nigeria’s Football Federation for stadium development and youth talent growth is both sickening and shameful.
“It perfectly mirrors the broader decay in how our scarce national resources are handled.
“I am certain that further investigations will reveal even worse realities than what we currently know.”
The Awka Stadium debacle
Obi recalled how, during his time as Governor of Anambra State, he received officials from the Sports Federation.
The officials informed that Awka had been selected as one of six geographical locations for the construction of a FIFA-standard stadium to be fully funded by FIFA.
They assured us that the project would be executed through the Federal Ministry of Sports.
According to him, he immediately allocated land for “such a major project.. underway”.
“We channelled our resources toward constructing mini-stadiums across the state to encourage grassroots sports.
We commissioned the Chuba Ikpeazu Memorial Stadium in Onitsha, as well as the Godwin Achebe Stadium in Onitsha South, among others,” he recalled.
Unfortunately, “that was the last we heard of it,” he regretted.
NFF squandering opportunities
He said further: “Years later, nothing came of the promised FIFA project, which prompted us to initiate the construction of the Awka Stadium ourselves.
“Seeing the recent news about funds released by FIFA to Nigeria to develop talent and improve youth sports, I am deeply disappointed by such blatant squandering of opportunities.
“I have always maintained that those who accuse us of “demarketing” Nigeria for speaking the truth and exposing corruption are the very ones who thrive on corruption and deceit.
“The real demarketers of Nigeria are the incompetent leaders who have forged their way to wealth through the mismanagement and theft of public funds.
“[These] resources that should have been used to provide schools, healthcare, and employment for our youths and to nurture their talents.”
Peter Obi stressed that since 2013, NFF has reportedly received about $25 million from FIFA and CAF.
The said funds were meant for the development of football and youth sports in our country.
However, “there is little or nothing to show for it, Obi lamented.
Kebbi State stadium a national embarrassment
Emphasising the shame of one such project, he said: ” The so-called $1.2 million stadium in Kebbi State is a national embarrassment.
“The structure in no way reflects the funds claimed to have been spent on it.
“We cannot continue to watch our sports decline while corruption flourishes.
“Our youths are our most prized assets, yet we have destroyed their future and then turned around to label them “Yahoo boys”.
“In truth, the leaders who have robbed them of their future are the real “Yahoo” of our nation.”
He regretted the shameful reflection of the corruption Nigerians have allowed to take root in the country.
In his words, “if we truly desire to rebuild our country, we must begin with integrity and accountability in every aspect and sector.
“Until then, our nation will continue to crawl where it should be soaring,” he added.
