Pinnick Amaju, the President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) revealed that the federation is still owing their vendors over ₦600 million.

“We owe our hotels and traveling agencies over ₦600 million, but I always want to guarantee the payment. So, it’s been very tough, but Nigerians don’t understand,” Pinnick said while highlighting his regrets as the President of the NFF in an interview with Brila FM on Saturday.

“Right now our sponsors are not paying on time because of the economic challenges. One of our sponsors is owing us about $6 million and because of the business they do and the relationship, we have to understand. That money would have solved most of our problems.

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“Some sponsors have even called us to renegotiate the terms in the contract, saying they can’t meet up and we understand.

“For example, our budget to the government annually is over ₦800 million.”

Pinnick also disclosed that plans were in the offing to build a football centre for the national teams.

“I wanted to build a centre because we are spending so much renting hotels and others,” he continued

“We wanted to build a world-class centre with four training pitches, almost six floors of hotel with 100 rooms and gym and 1000 capacity stadium.

“We are almost at the end of discussing FIFA’s capacity development and our sponsors, so we can reduce cost.”

Replacement

Pinnick believes there are competent replacements among the NFF executive board to take over from him.

“My first and second vice Presidents are competent, and I will not leave them,” he added.

“Even if the next President comes from outside the current executive committee, I’ll force myself to work with him, because we are all Nigerians.”

NFF’s post

Pinnick talks tough, says Statutes violators could face outright ban https://t.co/lWV63gTDzj

— The NFF 🇳🇬 (@thenff) August 21, 2022

Article 69 (1) of the NFF Statutes 2010 stipulates: “NFF, its members, players, officials and match and player’s agents will not take any dispute to ordinary courts unless specifically provided for in these Statutes and FIFA regulations. Any disagreement shall be submitted to the jurisdiction of FIFA, CAF, WAFU or NFF. 

(2) NFF shall have jurisdiction on internal national disputes i.e, disputes between parties belonging to NFF. FIFA shall have jurisdiction on international disputes, i.e, disputes between parties belonging to different Associations and/or Confederations.”