Former NFF President, Amaju Pinnick has strongly dismissed allegations of financial impropriety in the FIFA Goal Project located in Kebbi State, describing the claims as “completely misconstrued.
In a detailed response, Pinnick highlighted FIFA’s rigorous oversight of all Goal Projects, asserting that the international body maintains strict financial supervision.
“FIFA gives you their money, they audit their money, they know A to Z, and they have standards,” he explained.
The project, valued at approximately $1.1 million in 2020, translated to less than ₦400 million at the time, according to Pinnick.
He emphasized that the initiative strictly adhered to due process, with no additional funds requested or approved despite significant delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So if the contract was about $1.1 million in 2020, how much was it in naira? Less than ₦400 million. That’s what people don’t know. Everything went according to plan,” Pinnick stated.
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He noted that the contract explicitly prohibited variations, even as construction was halted midway due to the global health crisis.
“And even in the contract, it was stated clearly that there was no variation. COVID came, and after COVID, you understand, you started building, you have workers on site, then COVID struck, and everybody had to leave. There was no additional dime added to the contract. No variation, even in spite of COVID.”
Pinnick, who served as NFF President from 2014 to 2022, appealed for accuracy in public discourse on Nigerian football matters.
“There was a time in Nigerian football I said, listen, you can hate Amaju Pinnick, but love Nigerian football. So I just want to appeal — let us get our facts right,” he urged.
