Both the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the League Management Company (LMC) have again displayed great irresponsibility with their insistence to the run the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) amid growing concerns over the Coronavirus Pandemic.
The health and safety of the players, officials and fans ought to be the only consideration at this most trying time.
There are far more important things in the world than football at this time.
It was such irresponsibility that led to the “avoidable” death of Nasarawa United defender Chineme Martins at an NPFL game.
So irresponsible was Nigeria football in this tragedy that it needed a query from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) before the country could even set up a panel of investigation for this death.
The proper and reasonable thing to do under the current circumstances is to put on hold major sporting events, which attract crowds and allow for non-essential travel.
More responsible countries like neighbours Ghana, South Africa, DR Congo and Morocco have all suspended their leagues on account of the Coronavirus outbreak.
But sadly, Nigeria has carried on as if we are no longer part of the world.
The Federal Government did well to postpone the National Sports Festival, which would have started in Benin City on Sunday.
We expect the FG to also order the immediate suspension of the NPFL since the sports ministry, the NFF and the LMC have again failed to act responsibly.
The lives of millions of Nigerians are far more valuable than the selfish interest of a handful of people who are so desperate to cling on to their offices despite damning evidence they have failed to keep the public trust.
