Bayelsa Hosts High-Stakes NFF Assembly As Stakeholders Push Major Football Reforms
Bayelsa State took centre stage in Nigeria’s football administration on Monday, March 23, 2026, as it hosted the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Extraordinary General Assembly.
The high-level gathering, held at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Banquet Hall in Government House, Yenagoa, brought together key stakeholders from across the country’s football ecosystem to deliberate on critical reforms aimed at strengthening the game.
Declaring the assembly open, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, delivered a stirring address in which he praised the Director General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu.
Governor Diri noted that Nigeria’s sports administration has witnessed a remarkable turnaround, stating that the NIS—once relatively unknown—has undergone rapid transformation under Shaibu’s leadership in less than a year.
“Nigeria has never had it this good in sports administration. The NIS was hardly known before now, but within a short period, Comrade Philip Shaibu has redefined its relevance and impact,” the governor said.
He also urged other sports administrators and political appointees of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to emulate Shaibu’s visionary leadership and commitment to reform.
In his welcome address, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON) emphasised the need for unity and progressive reforms in Nigerian football, setting the tone for deliberations.
Key issues on the agenda include proposed amendments to the NFF Statutes, the Electoral Code, and the Standing Orders, alongside appointments into key committees, with FIFA and CAF officials in Yenagoa to observe proceedings.
