By SCM Sports Desk I Friday, August 28, 2026
ABUJA — In an unprecedented administrative reset for Nigerian football, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has endorsed Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, formerly the Deputy General Secretary, to immediately take over the running of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Secretariat as Ag. General Secretary.
The dramatic intervention by sports authorities follows the sudden, joint resignations on Thursday of NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, and key members of the NFF Executive Committee.
To complete the interim administrative structure at the Glass House, Dr. Ademola Olajire, who previously headed the NFF’s Media and Communications department, has been appointed to act as interim Deputy General Secretary.
Elective Congress Suspended, League Directors Handed Takeover Orders
The immediate fallout of the executive leadership collapse is the total suspension of all electoral procedures previously established for the NFF Elective Congress, which had been scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Sources within the NSC confirmed that a fresh electoral timeline will only be drawn up after the completion of a thorough, structural reform process.
This transition process is set to be conducted in full consultation with international football governing authorities, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
To prevent operational paralysis across the country’s domestic league system, the NSC issued immediate operational directives to all domestic leagues:
NPFL, NNL, NWFL, and NLO: Chairmen, appointed Directors, and Chief Executive Officers of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League, and Nationwide League One must hand over day-to-day administrative operations to their respective Chief Operating Officers (COOs) who hold NFF staff appointments.
Non-NFF Staff Replacement: In instances where a league’s COO is not a staff member of the NFF, Ag. General Secretary Dr. Ikpeme has been empowered to immediately deploy an internal NFF officer to take over operational duties.
The mass exit of the NFF executive board marks an historic turning point for Nigerian football governance. Elected in Benin City in September 2022 to succeed Amaju Pinnick, Ibrahim Musa Gusau’s administration faced growing administrative pressures and strain in managing national team operations.
Tensions escalated into institutional friction between the NFF Executive Committee and the leadership of the National Sports Commission, creating budget constraints for administrative and national team engagements.
The eventual resignation of both Gusau and long-serving scribe Dr. Mohammed Sanusi—who had occupied the chief administrative office since 2014—cleared the way for the government body to intervene and stabilize the sport’s operations.
The NSC reassured stakeholders that these interim administrative steps are strictly focused on maintaining administrative continuity while framing a comprehensive reform roadmap alongside FIFA, CAF, federal authorities, and domestic football stakeholders.
Further directives regarding the upcoming statutory elections and structural updates are expected to be issued by the interim leadership in due course.
