World football governing body, FIFA, has dissolved the current leadership structure of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, and approved the immediate constitution of a Normalisation Committee to take charge of the federation’s affairs.

The decision, which marks a major turning point in the administration of football in the country, was taken by FIFA following consultations with the Confederation of African Football, CAF, and other relevant stakeholders over the lingering crisis in Nigerian football.

According to a statement released by FIFA on Thursday, the Normalisation Committee will be saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the day-to-day running of the NFF and superintending over the process leading to fresh elections into the Executive Committee of the federation.

FIFA further disclosed that the committee will be jointly constituted by both FIFA and CAF, in line with standard practice for such interventions, to ensure neutrality, transparency and credibility in the discharge of its mandate.

The committee, whose members are expected to be persons of proven integrity and unblemished track records in football administration, will not be eligible to contest in the forthcoming elections they will be organising.

One of the key conditions given by FIFA is that the Normalisation Committee must conclude its assignment and conduct fresh elections into the NFF Executive Committee on or before May 31, 2027.

Until the committee is formally appointed and inaugurated, FIFA has directed that the NFF Secretariat, headed by the General Secretary, should continue to handle the routine administrative and operational activities of the federation.

This means that all correspondence, national team engagements, league matters and other day-to-day activities will still be handled by the Secretariat to avoid a vacuum in the system.

The development is coming against the backdrop of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent directive mandating the National Sports Commission, NSC, to collaborate with the NFF, FIFA and CAF to holistically reform Nigerian football.

President Tinubu had expressed concerns over the dwindling fortunes of Nigerian football in recent years, including the poor performance of national teams, leadership tussles and lack of corporate confidence in the domestic league.

Sources within the football circle revealed that the Presidency had been in talks with FIFA and CAF for several months to find a lasting solution that will return Nigerian football to its glorious days.

It was gathered that the idea of a Normalisation Committee was mooted as a way to clean up the system, review the statutes of the NFF and create a level playing field for all genuine football stakeholders.

A Normalisation Committee is a special intervention mechanism usually deployed by FIFA when a member association is facing severe leadership crisis, governance challenges or external interference that threatens its autonomy.

In most cases, the committee is given specific terms of reference which include running the federation’s daily affairs, reviewing its statutes and electoral code, and organising free and fair elections.

For Nigeria, this will not be the first time such a committee has been set up, as a similar body was put in place in the past to midwife the transition to a more democratic football federation.

Football enthusiasts across the country have reacted with mixed feelings to the news, with many describing it as a necessary evil that will finally sanitise the system and bring fresh ideas into football administration.

Others, however, have expressed fears that the constitution of the committee might lead to a temporary suspension of Nigeria from international football if not properly managed, though FIFA has assured that Nigeria remains a member in good standing.

Stakeholders are now waiting with bated breath for FIFA and CAF to unveil the names of those who will make up the Normalisation Committee, as the composition will largely determine the credibility of the process.

There are already speculations that former footballers, respected administrators and legal luminaries may be considered for the assignment, to ensure that the committee enjoys the confidence of the Nigerian football family.

Meanwhile, the current NFF Executive Committee led by Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau is expected to vacate office immediately in compliance with FIFA’s directive, although they have not yet issued an official statement.

As it stands, all eyes are now on Zurich and Cairo where FIFA and CAF are expected to finalise the list, while the NFF Secretariat continues to hold forth until the committee takes over the Glass House.

If successfully implemented, the Normalisation Committee is expected to usher in a new era of transparency, accountability and development for Nigerian football ahead of the 2027 general elections into the NFF board.