National Sports Commission Chairman Shehu Dikko has assured FIFA that Nigeria will work within the rules of world football as efforts intensify to find a lasting solution to the administrative crisis surrounding the country’s game.
Dikko gave the assurance while receiving a FIFA delegation currently in Nigeria on a working visit to engage relevant stakeholders and assess the situation surrounding the administration and proposed reform of Nigerian football.
The NSC chairman said the Federal Government’s position is aligned with both FIFA and the Confederation of African Football, stressing that Nigeria is prepared to cooperate with the two governing bodies in determining an acceptable way forward.
According to Dikko, FIFA and CAF will have the opportunity to assess the existing situation before deciding what steps should follow.
He maintained that the Nigerian authorities are committed to ensuring that whatever transition process eventually emerges is conducted smoothly and in accordance with established football regulations.
The visit comes at a significant moment for Nigerian football, with discussions continuing among the government, football administrators and other stakeholders over the scope and structure of proposed reforms.
Dikko’s comments also appear aimed at easing concerns over how government involvement in the process will interact with FIFA’s rules on the independent administration of member associations.
Rather than acting unilaterally, the NSC chairman said Nigeria intends to work with the international governing bodies as the process develops.
The FIFA delegation is expected to gather information from different sides of the dispute during its engagements before reporting its findings for further consideration.
That means the visit itself is not necessarily expected to produce an immediate decision on the future structure of Nigerian football.
For Dikko, however, cooperation remains central to finding a lasting solution.
He believes the priority should be achieving reforms capable of addressing the problems within the country’s football system while ensuring that any resulting transition complies with the rules governing the sport internationally.
With FIFA representatives now engaging directly with Nigerian stakeholders, attention will turn to what recommendations emerge from the visit and how FIFA and CAF subsequently respond.
Dikko’s message to the delegation is clear: Nigeria wants reform, but it intends to pursue that reform alongside FIFA and CAF — not outside the rules of world football.
