Raji Kayode, Ondo State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has taken pains to explain reasons for the recently signed collaboration between the NDLEA and NPFL, saying it was aimed at eradicating drug abuse in Nigerian football

The NDLEA boss frowned at
drug abuse by players who indulge in the act, saying a periodic testing of players and sensitization workshop to educate them on the dangers associated with drug abuse is paramount and indeed, over due.

Kayode spoke during a social media platform personality interview with Wakawaka Sports Extra, monitored by Exclusivenews.com.ng.

"We are proposing to conduct periodic drug tests on players", informs Kayode, himself a retired referee.

"Of course, this would be done with the blessings of club officials. Lectures and workshops highlighting the dangers of drug abuse, with copious references to Diego Maradona, Marion Jones, Ben Johnson, even Michael Jackson, Brenda Fasie etc would be made.

"This will be all over the country as each state Command of NDLEA would be involved in this. This is not about looking for culprits, it's about looking for patients to heal, so that our football will have a clean bill. Our boss, Gen Buba Marwa (Rted) is a football freak who also takes passionate interest in our local league".

The erstwhile 'man in black with the whistle' also believes Nigeria referees rank amongst the best, continental and globally.

Kayode would point out critical impediments militating against uptime performance of Nigeria referees, prominent amongst which, he noted, revolves around 'insecurity of referees at match venues'.

"The problem among Nigeria referees is not limited to corruption but insecurity in the various match venues", starts the retired referee even as he urged Nigeria security agencies and club administrators to ensure they beefed up security, particularly for the referees before, during and after matches.

"Without any iota of doubt or contradiction, I wish to restate that Nigerian referees are one of the best in the world. There is difference between incompetence and corruption. When you are talking of competence, Nigeria referees are one of the best in the world. When you see some officiating irrespective of what happens in some matches, we are not happy about them but Nigeria referees still remain one of the best in the world.

"Nigeria referees are still very good but the problem is not just limited to corruption, it's also insecurity in the stadia.

"Even in those days when officiating was top notch, some referees will do whatever is the bidding of the home team just to get away or out of the stadium alive.

"The problem still resides with our club administrators. You are expected as a referee to count the number of the security officials in the stadium, if you don't have the number that is recommended, you don't start the match. But then the problem we still have is that a lot of policemen will be there at the beginning of the match but as the match goes on, some of them begin to leave. 

"A lot of things need to be done but I believe the NRA has the initiative to bring in certain proposals and send them to the NFF in such a way that insecurity in the stadia will be eradicated.

"Nigeria referees are still one of the best in the world. Some make genuine mistakes and we know that some go out of their way. 

"But generally speaking, those few are not enough to taint the image of the referees bad. What we need to do is intensive training and retraining.

"Our domestic league was not on TV. CAF and FIFA hear/read a lot of condemnations of our referees from the media. That is a minus. Again, no matter how we look at it, we need to do some lobbying, or call it diplomatic approach. This was at play during the time of Oyo Orok, Dr Amos Adamu etc. We need men in CAF and FIFA to project and protect our interest, including our referees.

"Can we recall when any of our referees, either as assistant referees or reserve referees, perform ignonimously at international stage? The few, though far and in- between, that had the opportunity to officiate internationally have always performed exceptionally well. But as I said earlier, there is still room for improvement. We can still do better".