Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has declared that the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season will commence regardless of the number of clubs ready to comply with the Commission’s new reform agenda, insisting there will be no compromise on professional standards.
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Olopade made the bold statement as the NSC intensifies efforts to overhaul Nigerian domestic football through sweeping reforms aimed at improving governance, player welfare, club licensing and commercial sustainability.
According to the NSC boss, clubs unwilling or unable to comply with the new operational requirements risk being left behind as Nigerian football enters what he described as a new era.
“The league will start even if it is only five clubs that meet the requirements. Those who cannot comply with the new standards should leave because there is no going back on these reforms,” Olopade said.»
The Director General stressed that one of the Commission’s key priorities is to ensure Nigerian footballers receive better remuneration and operate in a truly professional environment, arguing that players can no longer be subjected to poor welfare and unpaid salaries.
Olopade also reiterated that the reforms are designed to transform the NPFL into a commercially viable league capable of creating wealth for clubs, players, investors and other stakeholders across the football ecosystem.
“Football must become a business that benefits everyone involved. We have to build a league that creates value, attracts investment and protects the welfare of our players,” he added.
The NSC has already begun consultations with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), club owners and other stakeholders as part of its broader strategy to reposition domestic football, with Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko leading the reform process.
Olopade further noted that successfully restructuring the domestic league would also strengthen Nigerian football administration, describing a vibrant and professionally run league as one of the foundations for the long-term growth of the NFF and the country’s football ecosystem.
