The National Association of Nigeria Footballers (NANF) states without fear of contradiction that Nigeria football stakeholders should not celebrate the FIFA Covid-19 palliative as it will disappear same way as the 2018 FIFA World Cup grant did.
On assumption of office in September 2014 as NFF president through the backdoor, Amaju Pinnick inherited the sum of $8.4m 2014 World Cup grant left behind by Aminu Maigari paid by FIFA on 18th December 2014 into NFF Zenith Bank domiciliary account number 5070407456.
This fund was alleged by NANF and other stakeholders to have been diverted into private pockets by Pinnick and his gang.
The 2014 FIFA grant is a subject of investigation by the anti-graft agencies as we speak.
The FIFA tradition is to pay World Cup grants every December in every World Cup year, usually six months after the World Cup to all countries who participated.
Where is Nigeria share of the 2018 World Cup paid by FIFA to the NFF in December 2018?
Having confirmed that the 2018 FIFA World Cup grant was not paid through the main NFF domiciliary accounts with Zenith Bank and UBA, NANF made an official enquiry to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) relying on the Freedom of Information Act.
The enquiry will later be blocked by the CBN, who declined the release of the information through the FOI ACT through a second letter to NANF.
The NANF has accordingly passed on the enquiry to the appropriate anti-graft agencies.
So, why are football stakeholders celebrating a mere $500,000 FIFA Covid-19 palliative?
We saw the 2014 FIFA World Cup grant the account the fund came in through is in the public domain.
NANF also told Nigerians the story how it was allegedly diverted every cent of it.
But where is the 2018 World Cup money?
It appears to have disappeared into thin air, same way the Covid-19 palliative will soon disappear.
But as part of our statutory responsibility in NANF to hold the NFF accountable, we have absolute confidence that the anti-graft agencies would soon unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of the 2018 FIFA World Cup grant to Nigeria.
The NFF as a public institution in which we are stakeholders must account for funds meant for football development.
Since the NFF relocated base to Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba as home ground for the Super Eagles and other national teams, the Delta State Government in its magnanimity is alleged to have spent over 2.5 billion Naira in hosting matches involving these teams.
Sadly these funds never reflected in any of the NFF accounts.
The NANF has now shifted its focus on how the good gesture of the Delta State Government has been misapplied.
HARRISON JALLA, President (NANF)
