Abuja – The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) on Monday said it was budgeting about N3.9 billion for its 2014 activities different from the Super Eagles’ Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup appearance.

Musa Amadu, the Secretary-General of the NFA, announced this in Abuja while defending the football body’s 2014 budget before the Senate Committee on Sports.

Amadu said the budget, when approved, would take care of other national teams’ competitions since the Super Eagles’ World Cup campaign already has a separate budget.

NFA has already submitted a separate budget of N2.08 billion for the Super Eagles’ World Cup campaign.

“NFA’s events for 2014, as well as overhead costs and capital projects like the furnishing of its new secretariat and personnel matters would also be catered for in the main budget,’’ Amadu had said.

He said the non-approval of NFA’s capital budget for 2013 had thwarted the plan by the association to relocate to its new secretariat since the completion of the building last year.

“It’s unfortunate that we did not get a single penny for capital projects last year. Although we were handed a brand new secretariat, but we have not been able to move into it.

“This is because of the paucity of fund. The football house decided that whether we have funds or not, we must put a strategy in place to be able to move into the building.

“However, we will need about N80 million to be able to move into the new secretariat, beginning from April,’’ Amadu said.

The NFA secretary-general also said the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) proposed for Aug. 26 or Aug. 27 in Abuja would gulp part of the money being asked for.

He explained that the 2014 AGM was important to the NFA since it was an elective meeting.

Amadu had earlier told the Senate Committee that the NFA would need about N2.08 billion separately to prosecute the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup scheduled to begin on June 12.

He said part of the money would be expended on the Super Eagles’ international friendly with Scotland on May 28 and its three-day training tour of Philadelphia, U.S.

The NFA official added that the Eagles’ friendly matches with Greece and USA on June 3 and June 8 respectively would also consume part of the fund.

Adamu Gumba, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports, assured the NFA of adequate funding, saying this was because its 2013 budget was properly utilised.

“We will request to come to your aid. Whenever I have the opportunity, I have always been requesting government to come to your aid and support.

“We will continue to do so, so that you can have sufficient money to run your programmes. Nigerians are very happy that you have performed creditably.

“So, I think the Minister and the National Assembly will have to sit together and see how we can support you so that you will continue with your good works,’’ Gumba said.

He commended the leadership of the NFA for the laurels the country won in 2013 and 2014, among which was the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA U-17 World Cup.

The appearance of the NFA, National Sports Commission (NSC) and the National Institute for Sports (NIS) before the Senate Committee formed the 2014 budget defence for sports.

A similar activity had taken place at the House of Representatives on Monday, March 10.(NAN)