$1.2m stadium fund: FIFA cannot build stadium for any nation – Rep

The Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Kabiru Amadu, has clarified that the Federation of International Football Associations does not build or construct standard stadiums for nations, contrary to public expectations surrounding the controversial Kebbi Stadium project.

Speaking on Channels Television on Wednesday, Amadu said FIFA only provides football development grants to member nations, which can be used at their discretion for projects such as mini-stadiums, training of coaches, or grassroots football development.

“According to the rule of FIFA, FIFA cannot build or construct a stadium for any nation, like I said in the first place. 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.”

His clarification comes amid public outrage over a photo shared by FIFA on social media showing the Kebbi Stadium under the FIFA Forward Programme. The image, taken in 2023, depicted an unfinished structure and triggered backlash from Nigerians who questioned how the $1.2 million allocated for the project was spent.

While the Nigeria Football Federation has maintained that all FIFA funds are properly accounted for and strictly tied to approved projects, critics have expressed doubts about transparency and accountability.

Amadu dismissed comparisons between the Kebbi facility and Kenya’s modern stadium, insisting that “there is no way on earth that $1.2 million can construct that kind of a stadium.

“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. 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.”

“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.”

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The House of Representatives had on Tuesday resolved to set up a special committee to investigate FIFA and Confederation of African Football grants totalling $25 million given to the NFF.

The controversy has reignited the #SaveNigerianFootball campaign, with citizens demanding greater transparency in the management of sports development funds.