Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has refuted allegations of misappropriation of the $1.2 million FIFA fund allocated for the construction of a mini-stadium in Kebbi State.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Dikko clarified that no individual or institution in Nigeria received the funds, stressing that FIFA directly managed the project and all associated finances.

“That’s where people are getting it wrong — no one collected the money. I’m not here to defend the NFF; they can speak for themselves. But as the head of sports in Nigeria, what affects the NFF impacts the entire sports ecosystem, so it’s important to set the record straight,” he said.

Dikko explained that under FIFA’s project framework, the global body oversees the entire process — from appointing consultants and supervising contracts to directly paying contractors — while the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) only provides land and project specifications.

“I have managed FIFA projects before, and I know how the system works. The NFF never had access to the funds. FIFA handles everything — they appoint consultants, conduct procurement, and make payments directly to contractors,” he noted.

He further clarified that the project’s valuation was based on figures from 2015, not current exchange rates. “This isn’t $1.2 million in today’s value. When approved in 2015, it was worth around ₦300 million. That was the equivalent at the time,” Dikko said.

According to him, delays in land acquisition and documentation pushed the project’s foundation laying and contract signing to 2020, after which FIFA’s appointed contractor began work. “Before signing, there was a public tender and procurement process. What people see in the pictures is just the first phase of the project,” he added.

The mini-stadium project in Birnin Kebbi, financed through FIFA’s Forward Programme, has drawn public criticism over its perceived cost and appearance. The controversy escalated after FIFA used the stadium’s image in one of its social media posts, sparking widespread outrage and calls for accountability.

Dikko maintained that FIFA remains fully responsible for executing the project, insisting that the funds were managed transparently and in line with international standards.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Committee on Sports has launched an investigation into the NFF’s handling of FIFA and CAF development grants, with the Kebbi mini-stadium project serving as a key focus of the probe.