Ikpeme Takes Charge of NFF Secretariat Amid Sweeping Changes

Posted : 29 August 2026

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has approved a major interim restructuring of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), following the resignation of the federation’s President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, and members of the Executive Committee.

Under the new arrangement, Emmanuel Ikpeme, the erstwhile Deputy General Secretary, will oversee the NFF Secretariat as Acting General Secretary, while Ademola Olajire, former Director of Media and Communications, will serve as Acting Deputy General Secretary.

The sweeping changes came barely a day after Gusau announced his resignation at a press briefing in Abuja, where he also called on other members of the NFF Executive Committee to step down.

The NSC also suspended all processes connected with the NFF Elective Congress earlier scheduled for Sept. 27.

According to the commission, a fresh electoral process will be initiated after the completion of comprehensive reforms expected to be carried out in consultation with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The restructuring also affects the administration of the country’s major domestic leagues.

Chairmen, appointed Directors and Chief Executive Officers of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Nigeria National League (NNL), Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) and Nationwide League One (NLO) have been directed to hand over the administration of their respective leagues to their Chief Operating Officers (COOs).

The NSC said where the COO of any of the leagues was not a member of the NFF staff, the Acting General Secretary would deploy a new COO from the federation.

The measures, according to the commission, are designed to maintain continuity in Nigerian football administration during the transition period.

It added that the interim arrangement would remain in place pending consultations with FIFA, CAF, the Federal Government and other stakeholders on a roadmap for comprehensive reforms and the subsequent steps required to implement them.

The NSC said further changes and directives would be communicated in due course.

The development marks a major administrative shake-up in Nigerian football following the resignation of the NFF leadership and the commencement of moves to reform the federation's structure and electoral process.

Ikpeme Takes Charge of NFF Secretariat Amid Sweeping Changes

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