No FIFA Fund Was Misused, Says Shehu Dikko on Kebbi Mini-Stadium Project

Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko, has refuted allegations that the $1.2 million FIFA fund meant for the construction of a mini-stadium in Kebbi State was misused.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Dikko clarified that no individual or organization in Nigeria collected the money, as FIFA handled all financial transactions and project supervision directly.

Dikko explained that under FIFA’s project structure, the governing body appoints consultants, oversees procurement, and pays contractors directly, leaving the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) with no access to the funds.

He further noted that the mini-stadium’s valuation was based on the 2015 exchange rate, when it was worth about ₦300 million. According to him, delays in land acquisition and documentation shifted construction to 2020.

Dikko emphasized that the viral image circulating online represented only the first phase of the project, which underwent a proper public tender and procurement process before FIFA’s appointed contractor began work.

The mini-stadium in Birnin Kebbi, funded under FIFA’s Forward Programme, has faced criticism over its structure and cost. The controversy intensified after FIFA used the image on its social media banner, prompting public outrage and calls for accountability.

Dikko maintained that FIFA remains fully responsible for executing the project and assured that all funds were managed transparently in line with global standards. Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Sports has launched an investigation into the NFF’s handling of FIFA and CAF development grants, with the Kebbi project under review.