Sports Minister wants NPL crisis resolved

Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has charged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to “conclusively resolve” the crisis rocking the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) before February 16, 2013.

Abdullahi made the call at the 2012 congress of the NFF inPort Harcourton Thursday.

Recent developments saw the congress of the NPL kick out former chairman, Baribote Victor Rumson and former acting Executive Secretary, Tunji Babalola was appointed to hold the reins until the 2012/13 season gets underway.

The NSC has now confirmed that it had been monitoring proceedings at the NPL and is charging the NFF to immediately take action on the matter. “This crisis (in the NPL) will affect Nigerian football at all levels if it is not checked with immediate effect. The league is the heart and soul of football in any country and if there are negative issues surrounding it, it will affect that country’s football at all level,” he said.

Abdullahi who was represented by former NFF secretary general, Bolaji Ojo-Oba.

“We are aware of all the issues surrounding the league including the absence of title sponsors and we are urging the NFF to see that the issues are all conclusively resolved before the kick-off date for the 2012/13 season.”

The 2012/13 season has been scheduled to kick off on February 16, 2013.