SPORTS minister Sunday Dare has insisted that the Federal Government, through his ministry, and the Nigeria Football Federation are on working in the same direction regarding the development of football in Nigeria.
Dare was speaking on Thursday at the inauguration of the 10-Year Football Development Masterplan Committee at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
“Those who are insinuating that the newly inaugurated committee will work at cross purposes with the Nigeria Football Federation are so far from the truth,” the minister said.
“This committee is a Presidential assignment and the NFF are also working for the good of the game in Nigeria so we are on the same page.”
The masterplan committee, made up of technocrats, former internationals and journalists, is to draw up a workable roadmap for the development of Nigerian football.
Members of the committee include former national team stars Segun Odegbami and Sunday Oliseh.
Other members include NFF secretary general Mohammed Sanusi, former Nigeria Football Association Chairman Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima, veteran journalists Ikeddy Isiguzo and Ade Ojeikere, as well as Musa Amadu, Bode Durotoye, John Opubor, Ayo Omidiran, Ogbu Ojiabor, Tobechukwu Okigbo, Tony Nnachetta, Yemi Idowu and Muhammad Daha Umar Faruk.
The ministry set up the committee in September following the charge by President Muhammadu Buhari to football stakeholders to produce a 10-year football development masterplan for the country.
