Shehu Dikko Explains His 'Soft Stand' On Kebbi Stadium Controversy, Denies Shielding NFF

National Sports Commission (NSC) chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko has provided a detailed explanation of what some critics view as his ‘soft stand’ on the Kebbi Stadium controversy that is currently rocking Nigerian football, Sports247 reports.

While many analysts, critics and fans are currently lampooning Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials for allegedly installing a shabby structure for the stadium in Kebbi, after apparently misusing a hefty grant from world soccer governing body, FIFA, Dikko opined that there was nothing fishy about the said project.

Read Also: Ikorodu City’s Technical Adviser Bright Ozebagbe Targets Three Points Versus Kun Khalifat

The former chairman of Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and ertswhile second vice-president of the NFF, quickly interjected that he is not siding with the football govening body on the raging issue, but pointed out that he just wanted to put the records straight.

Dikko added while clearing the air during ‘Politics Today’ on Channels Television: “My position as NSC chairman is to protect the system, make sure the right things are done, and ensure they are put in place.

“I was the first person to deliver a FIFA Goal Project in Nigeria, which was in 2004. Although I was not in the NFF when they got this one in Kebbi, I got the first project in Nigeria. So, I understand how these things work.”

The NSC’s supremo went on to provide details of the procedure through which FIFA usually initiates its projects, which he believes would have made it impossible for anyone in the NFF to shortchange the stadium in Kebbi.

Dikko added: “At present, I am a member of the FIFA Stakeholders Committee, which is one of the most powerful committees in FIFA. So, I know how FIFA works.

“This is why I know nobody collected the money (for Kebbi Stadium) because FIFA always manage their projects directly.

“The job of the NFF in this kind of project is just to provide the land, and say ‘this is what we want.’ At the end of the day, it is FIFA that will appoint their consultant, go through the process, appoint the contractor, and pay them directly to deliver what they agreed on.”

Dikko also gave an elaborate explanation of how fluctuations in the exchange rate of naira to the dollar further cast doubt over allegations of embezzlement levelled against NFF’s top shots by critics.

Click here to read article