By Ernest Osogbue
The groundbreaking ceremony for the NFF/FIFA hostel project on Tuesday, 18th March 2025, was an epoch making event, which attracted dignitaries from all walks of life. From the speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abass, to the chairman Senate committee on sports. There was also the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Costums Service, Wale Adeniyi, as well as representatives of the Chief of Defense Staff and that of the FIFA president, Giani Infantino.
Members of the diplomatic corps were also present, with the Qatari Ambassador to Nigeria in attendance, along with other Middle Eastern diplomats. That was not all, as members of Nigerian football royalty were well represented, with Super Eagles legends like Samson Siasia, Victor Ikpeba, Austin Eguavoen and former Green Eagles captain Segun Odegbami in attendance. To underscore the importance of the event, members of the sporting press were there in their numbers to record the event for posterity.
Coming just days before a crucial World Cup qualifier between the Eagles and the Amavubi’s of Rwanda in Kigali, the event was a signpost of how important the Super Eagles and by extension football is to Nigeria. The sunbaked venue of the event at the package B of the MKO Abiola National Stadium Abuja was abuzz even before the commencement of the event. When the chief guest of honor and speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abass, finally arrived, he was to perform his groundbreaking duty hurriedly, as other matters of state, perhaps, requiring his meeting with President Tinubu, were on hand.
That notwithstanding, the speaker made sure to inform all that were present of the support of both chambers of the National Assembly to the NFF/FIFA Hostel project. He pointed out the unifying impact of football to the nation and gave assurance that his door would remain open to the NFF any time his advice and support were needed. Thereafter, the speaker performed the groundbreaking and made his exit.
The important thing to note here is that the NFF was able to attract a high caliber guest list for the groundbreaking ceremony. This is a testament to the reach and goodwill currently enjoyed by the present board of the NFF. it is hoped that the body would leverage on that goodwill to ensure that issues concerning the development of Nigerian football receive needed attention. On the other hand, all journalists present at the event, with whom this writer spoke, were unanimous in their assessment of the project.
Over the years, NFF presidents have usually been rated, based on the performances of the Super Eagles and Super Falcons on the international stage. Added to that, sometimes, is the performance of the national underage teams. The consensus of opinion among the journalists however, was that whether Nigerian teams did well or not under the current NFF board, the successful completion of the NFF/FIFA Hostel and new training pitches project would paste the Ibrahim Gusau led board indelibly in the annals of Nigerian football history.
According to most of the journalists, previous boards of the NFF had had such opportunities in the past but wasted them on frivolities. In their estimation, Gusau would stand out prominently if these legacy projects were to be completed in time as proposed. The only caveat, according to them, is that the project on completion must not be operated as a hostel but as a business venture if it is to be sustainable. In their view, a hostel would soon become dilapidated, as government officials and others would use it without recourse to maintenance and accountability. Whereas, if it were operated as a hotel in partnership with a credible hospitality company, where even the NFF has to pay its own bills, the chances of sustainability would be higher. After all, whatever the NFF pays for lodging the national teams, would still come back to its coffers with profit at the end of every financial year.
It remains to be seen whether the NFF would accede to this advice. Be that as it may, there is no doubt that the successful completion of the NFF/FIFA Hostel project, would undoubtedly signpost the Ibrahim Gusau led NFF board, as the most financially prudent board in recent memory. We watch and wait.
