Recently, news reports emerged that a former chieftain of the Nigeria Football Federation, was on Wednesday, June 5, 2025, called  to answer questions at the Police Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos, a petition  was deposited against him on the non-completion of the Ugborodo FIFA Project in Delta State. 

The former NFF President appearance before the PSFU, was hinged on the petition forward to the anti-fraud unit by renowned football activist and Chairman of PFAN's BoT, Prince Harrison Jalla.

Jalla in the petition, is asking the PSFU to look into the misappropriation of 10 million dollars meant for the construction of FIFA Forward 1 and 2 projects located in Birnin Kebbi and Ugborodo, of Kebbi and Delta States respectively. 

It further alleged that the Nigeria Football Federation under the leadership of Amaju Pinnick between 2014-2022 received a total of $10m in tranches from 2017-2022 out which $3.2m was allocated to Ugborodo and Birnin Kebbi projects in Delta and Kebbi states. $1.1m was allocated to Ugborodo project and $1.2m, allocated to the Kebbi project. 

Jalla, asked that the PSFU assist to unravel the mystery surrounding the disbursement of FIFA 1&2 forward projects, also alleged that other than the mini-stadium project in Kebbi state and the uncompleted project at Ugborodo, there is nothing to show for the $10m received by the NFF under Amaju Pinnick as President. 

Ugborodo, is a community with rich cultural heritage and an abundance of untapped talent, it lies in the heart of oil rich Niger Delta.

Years ago, Ugborodo was selected as one of the sites for the FIFA Goal Project—an initiative aimed at providing infrastructure and technical support to develop football in underrepresented areas across the globe. However, over a decade later, the Ugborodo FIFA Goal Project remains uncompleted, a haunting symbol of missed opportunities and systemic failure that continues to affect grassroots football development in Nigeria.

Launched in 1999 by FIFA under then-president Sepp Blatter, the Goal Project was envisioned as a global tool to support national football associations, especially in developing countries, in building infrastructure like technical centers, administrative offices, and football academies. Each project was to be community-centric, with emphasis on sustainability, inclusiveness, and long-term sporting development.

Nigeria, as a footballing powerhouse in Africa, has benefited from multiple phases of the Goal Project. In Lagos, Abuja, and Bauchi, FIFA-sponsored centers have been built or improved to serve youth and amateur football. However, the story in Ugborodo stands in stark contrast to these successes.

The Ugborodo FIFA Goal Project was approved during the presidency of Amaju Pinnick in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), under the Goal Project Phase III. The location was strategic: it was expected to open up football development in the South-South region, provide opportunities for youth in riverine communities, and decentralize football training infrastructure in Nigeria.

Construction reportedly commenced with enthusiasm. According to early reports, the proposed facility was to include a full-sized pitch, administrative buildings, accommodation for players and coaches, and classroom facilities for football education. However, years passed, and progress stalled. The buildings remain skeletal, the pitch overgrown, and the local dreams dashed.

Several factors have been attributed to the failure of the Ugborodo project:
    1.    Administrative Conflicts
Turf wars between the NFF leadership and local political actors reportedly stalled project oversight. Disputes over land ownership, contracts, and project control created a bureaucratic impasse.
    2.    Poor Governance and Transparency
The absence of clear financial reporting on the project has raised suspicions of mismanagement. Questions remain unanswered about how the allocated FIFA funds were disbursed and why project milestones were missed.
    3.    Lack of Continuity in Leadership
With changes in the NFF leadership, many FIFA-funded projects suffered due to lack of institutional memory. Successive presidents and executives have either ignored the Ugborodo site or deprioritized its completion.
    4.    Security and Access Issues
Being a riverine and occasionally volatile community due to oil-related tensions, security concerns were cited as barriers. Yet, other projects in equally challenging terrains have been successfully executed, revealing deeper issues at play.

The non-completion of the Ugborodo project is more than a local disappointment—it has far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s footballing ecosystem.
    1.    Wasted Talent Pipeline
Communities like Ugborodo and neighboring towns are brimming with raw football talent. Without structured academies or training centers, young players have limited chances to hone their skills, receive mentorship, or even gain exposure to scouts and professional teams.
    2.    Erosion of Trust in Football Governance
When communities witness unfulfilled promises—especially when tied to global initiatives like the FIFA Goal Project—it reinforces cynicism toward local football administrators and institutions. This trust deficit weakens community engagement and support.
    3.    Stunted Regional Development
The project was designed to decentralize development from urban centers. Without it, regions like the Niger Delta continue to depend on already overstretched facilities in cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt. This unbalanced development contributes to inequality in access and opportunity.
    4.    Lost Investment Opportunity
Beyond football, projects like Ugborodo were meant to stimulate local economies through construction jobs, tourism, and service provision. The incomplete site now stands as a monument of economic and developmental loss.
    5.    Reduced International Credibility
FIFA and other international bodies rely on member nations to follow through on joint projects. Failures like Ugborodo damage Nigeria’s reputation, potentially affecting future allocations or partnerships.

What Needs to Be Done
    1.    Independent Audit and Accountability
The NFF and relevant oversight bodies must commission a thorough audit into the Ugborodo project. Stakeholders deserve transparency regarding how funds were utilized and who should be held accountable for the stagnation.
    2.    Project Revival and Reallocation
With a fresh commitment, the NFF can still salvage the project. This may include updating original designs, securing new contractors, or seeking private sector partnerships to co-fund its completion.
    3.    Community Involvement
Any renewed effort must involve the Ugborodo community directly. Their input, cooperation, and ownership are essential for the sustainability and security of the facility.
    4.    FIFA Oversight and Monitoring
FIFA should take a more active role in monitoring long-abandoned projects. Mechanisms must be put in place to ensure that future initiatives are not only well-funded but also tightly managed.
    5.    Policy Reform on Infrastructure Management
Beyond Ugborodo, Nigeria needs a national framework for sports infrastructure maintenance and evaluation. This will help avoid recurrence of such failures and ensure public resources are not wasted.

Nigeria is a nation blessed with football talent, but consistently plagued by poor infrastructure, inconsistent policy, and administrative lapses. The Ugborodo FIFA Goal Project is a microcosm of broader systemic issues that need urgent reform.

While countries like Senegal and Morocco continue to invest in football infrastructure and reap global rewards, Nigeria risks falling behind. To change this trajectory, the nation must start treating its grassroots initiatives as the foundation of future success, not as photo opportunities or political capital.

The incomplete Ugborodo FIFA Goal Project is not just an unfinished building—it is a broken promise to a generation of youth who saw football as a path to a better life. Completing the project would not only revive dreams in the South-South region but send a strong message that Nigerian football is ready to prioritize development over politics, action over promises.

For a country that has produced legends and dazzled at the world stage, it’s time the structures off the pitch match the brilliance on it.