By Fidelis Ebu
After series of meetings without amicably resolving the impasse between the Nigeria Football Federation and Nigeria Football Association that is threatening the smooth administration of football in the country, the National Sports Commission has decided to head for Zurich; the home of the world football governing body, Fifa for advise.

Chief Patrick Ekeji, the Director General of the NSC, said yesterday that a government delegation would head to Fifa to seek its advise on the way out of the logjam following the emergence of a parallel body; Nigeria Football Association who are challenging the legality of the Alhaji Aminu Maigari-led Nigeria Football Federation.

While expressing that the Commission has established contact with FIFA on the development, Chief Ekeji said efforts  to resolve the problem have failed. “The NSC had two peace meetings with the warring groups (NFF and NFA) without reaching any accord, and I have advised them to shield their swords pending when the Commission gets feedback from Fifa”, Chief Patrick Ekeji said yesterday.
He noted with dismay that what the NFA group was doing was not in conformity with the law of the land.

“We must follow the details of our law; the NFA group know that what they are doing is not proper. That group (NFA) has no legal standing even though they have raised issues, which cannot be swept under.

“The NSC is in a situation where it cannot show its face and turn its back to the development.

“We have to get in touch with Fifa for its advice so that we don’t take decision that will backfire”, thus declared Chief Patrick Ekeji, the director general of the National Sports Commission.

While fielding questions, the NSC boss said Fifa was aware of the genesis of the problem starting from the election of members of the NFF board and the Nigeria Premier League, but regretted that decisions reached were not implemented by certain group.

He pointed out that about two weeks back, a letter was received from the NFA that it wanted to inaugurate itself, and since such letter was received, the attention of the then minister, Professor Taoheed Adedoja was drawn to it. The NSC helmsman said whatever advise received from Fifa would be used as a tool of resolving the differences between the warring NFF and NFA to ensure that the game of football is played in the country uninterrupted just as he emphasised that the Maigari-led NFF is the one recognised by the Commission.