Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme has assumed interim responsibility for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat as a sweeping administrative shake-up begins following the resignation of the federation’s top leadership.
Ikpeme, a former NFF Deputy General Secretary, has been designated to oversee the Secretariat as interim General Secretary, while Dr Ademola Olajire, the federation’s former Director of Media and Communications, takes up the position of interim Deputy General Secretary.
The transition follows the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the Executive Committee, triggering a broader restructuring of football administration in the country.
As part of the process, the chairmen, appointed directors and chief executive officers overseeing the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) and Nationwide League One (NLO) have been directed to hand over the administration of their respective competitions to Chief Operating Officers who are members of the NFF staff.
The directive means that Gbenga Elegbeleye, chairman of the NPFL board, George Aluo, chairman of the NNL board, and other appointed league administrators are required to relinquish operational control as the reform process takes effect.
Where an existing COO is not an NFF staff member, the Acting General Secretary is expected to deploy a federation staff member to take over the role.
The sweeping changes come after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football, with particular emphasis on governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability.
The NFF has also suspended all processes relating to the September 27 elective congress. A fresh electoral process is expected to commence after the completion of the proposed reforms, with consultations involving FIFA and CAF.
The transition therefore represents more than a change of personnel at the NFF Secretariat. It places the federation and its domestic competitions under an interim administrative framework while the authorities work towards a broader restructuring of Nigerian football.
For now, Ikpeme’s interim stewardship puts the NFF Secretariat at the centre of the transition, while the exit of Elegbeleye, Aluo and other league administrators signals a significant break from the existing administrative order.
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