Nigerian newspapers review: [NFF Board resignation] Tinubu directs comprehensive football reform

In today’s Nigerian newspapers review programme, Today in the News, Vanguard leads with President Bola Tinubu ordering a “comprehensive reform” of Nigerian football following a string of failures by the country’s national teams to qualify for major international competitions. Another headline features Organised Labour and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) accusing the Federal Government and petroleum industry operators of contributing to the mounting hardship faced by Nigerian workers and the masses through successive increases in petroleum product prices. Vanguard also reports that the Federal Government warned that 915 communities across 19 states and the Federal Capital Territory are at critical risk of flooding between August 27 and September 9, 2026, urging residents in the affected areas to take immediate precautionary measures and prepare for possible evacuation.

Moving to another newspaper, The Guardian leads with the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) seeking new direction amid global accountability probe. The Punch leads with President Bola Tinubu meeting with governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, otherwise known as the Progressives Governors‘ Forum, at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, to resolve the crisis trailing the controversial Presidential Campaign Council list released by the party last Saturday, August 23, 2026. Lastly, The Nation reports that President Tinubu said the Federal Government and the 36 states are targeting October 1 for Nigerians to begin enjoying lower transport fares arising from the cost savings offered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric vehicles.

Vanguard News The post Nigerian newspapers review: [NFF Board resignation] Tinubu directs comprehensive football reform appeared first on Vanguard News. By Tony Ubani, Patrick Omorodion, Jacob Ajom, Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Emma Jemegah President Bola Tinubu has directed a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football to overcome repeated failures to qualify for major regional, continental and world tournaments, following the resignation of Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau as president of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF. Read Also: NFF Crisis: Tinubu orders comprehensive reform of Nigerian Football Vanguard had exclusively reported on Thursday, of the resignation the NFF board.

President Tinubu said: “The reform must respond to a long-standing need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football.” The President noted that while other sports had recorded meaningful progress since reset of the sports sector under the re-established National Sports Commission, football has continued to struggle because of structural weaknesses within the system. “Football, Nigeria’s most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, has continued to struggle basically due to structural deficits within the system,” Tinubu said. He stressed that Nigerian football must begin to match the country’s exceptional talent, passion and resources with stronger institutions and sustained performance.

President Tinubu directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, NSC, to work with the NFF Secretariat and relevant football stakeholders to ensure continuity in essential football administration and facilitate a broad, consultative reform process. The process will include appropriate engagement with Federation of International Football Associations, FIFA, and Confederation of African Football, CAF, while safeguarding Nigeria’s obligations within the international football framework. The President called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and work together to build a stronger, more accountable and successful football system.

Gusau officially announced his resignation at a press conference in Abuja yesterday. Meanwhile former coach of Enyimba International of Aba, Kadiri Ikhana has called for the prosecution of Alhaji Gusau and his board members just as former Green Eagles star, Chief Felix Owolabi lamented the destruction of Nigeria’s football und…