Chairman of the Kebbi State Football Association, Abubakar Ladan, has dismissed reports alleging mismanagement and poor execution of the FIFA Goal Project in Birnin Kebbi, insisting that the stadium was fully completed, certified, and remains in active use.
The facility, constructed under the FIFA Forward Programme, has been at the centre of online controversy following allegations that funds were misused and the stadium left uncompleted. However, Ladan has called the accusations “false and politically motivated,” stressing that the project has met all FIFA requirements.
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“The project was not abandoned. It’s being used regularly — Kebbi United FC played their entire home campaign there last season,” Ladan told reporters. “People making these claims have not even visited the stadium. They rely on pictures taken out of context. The project was delivered, inspected, and certified in line with FIFA’s expectations.”
He further revealed that the Birnin Kebbi facility has hosted multiple football tournaments, including national youth championships, women’s football fixtures, and state-level competitions. “This facility has brought life to football in our state,” Ladan added. “It is not just a showpiece — it is functional and valuable to grassroots football.”
Ladan also urged the public to avoid politicising sports development, reminding critics that every FIFA-funded project undergoes strict auditing. “FIFA does not release money without accountability. The funds were disbursed directly to contractors under their supervision. The narrative that the NFF mismanaged funds is misleading,” he stated.
His comments come amid renewed scrutiny of FIFA and CAF development grants to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), with the House of Representatives currently investigating alleged financial irregularities spanning the past decade.
Ladan, however, maintained confidence in the federation’s transparency, noting that misinformation only undermines progress. “Let’s focus on development, not division,” he said.
