By: Ojay Matthew
The Kebbi State Football Association (FA) has denied allegations of fund mismanagement and substandard execution of the FIFA-sponsored mini-stadium project in the state, insisting that the facility was fully completed and has been in active use for over two years.
Speaking to journalists in Birnin Kebbi on Sunday, the Chairman of the State FA, Alhaji Abubakar Chika-Ladan, described recent social media claims about the project as “baseless and misleading.”
“There have been several insinuations that the project was not completed or that funds were misappropriated by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF),” Chika-Ladan said. “We are here to show the world that the mini-stadium was completed and has been functional since its commissioning.”
According to him, the facility has hosted multiple football competitions at both national and local levels, serving as the home ground for Kebbi United Football Club during the last league season. He added that Zamfara United had also temporarily relocated to Kebbi to use the pitch.
“What people are saying is a figment of their imagination. Those spreading such rumours are enemies of progress and enemies of Nigeria,” he stated.
‘Project Executed Under FIFA Supervision’
Chika-Ladan clarified that the mini-stadium was executed directly by FIFA, not the NFF, under its Forward Programme. The global football body, he said, selected both the contractor and consultant through an international competitive bidding process won by Nigerian firms.
“The project, valued at $1.8 million (about ₦400 million at the time), included a standard playing pitch, a 250-seat pavilion, medical clinic, dressing rooms for teams and officials, perimeter fencing, landscaping, and maintenance equipment,” he explained.
He also noted that the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mr. Shehu Dikko, had earlier addressed public concerns, confirming that the project was properly executed under FIFA’s oversight.
SWAN Calls for Responsible Reporting
The Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in Kebbi, Mr. Mansur Senchi, also condemned the spread of what he called “unfounded stories” about the project.
“For someone to sit in another part of the country and fabricate falsehoods is unacceptable,” Senchi said. “We urge our national leadership to caution those who peddle misinformation about this project.”
Background to the Controversy
The Birnin Kebbi mini-stadium, constructed under FIFA’s Forward Programme, became the subject of public debate after images of the facility appeared on FIFA’s social media banner, drawing criticism over its appearance and perceived cost.
However, NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko, speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today* last Friday, dismissed allegations that the $1.2 million FIFA fund allocated for the project had been diverted.
“That’s where people are getting it wrong; no one collected the money,” Dikko said. “I’m not defending the NFF, but as the leader of sports in Nigeria, I have to make it clear that the funds were managed directly by FIFA, not by anyone here.”
He emphasized that the controversy stemmed from misinformation about the structure and funding process of FIFA-assisted projects, urging the public to verify facts before drawing conclusions.
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