Precious Nwonu, Enugu
Security operatives from the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force have taken control of the Nigeria Football Federation secretariat in Abuja ahead of a scheduled stakeholders’ meeting with officials of world football governing body, FIFA.
The heavily armed operatives were deployed around the NFF headquarters on Monday, with access to the premises restricted as preparations continued for the meeting.
More than 20 security personnel, who arrived in several official vehicles, were positioned at strategic points around the secretariat and subjected visitors and stakeholders to screening at the entrance.
Only a limited number of people were reportedly allowed into the complex, while others were denied access.
Attempts by journalists to enter the secretariat were also blocked by the security operatives, who said a high-level management meeting was taking place inside the premises.
The operatives reportedly said they had received instructions from above not to allow journalists into the complex or permit them to operate within the secretariat.
Earlier, a vehicle from the State House arrived at the NFF headquarters and delivered files containing documents ahead of the management meeting.
Meanwhile, the FIFA delegation expected to participate in the stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for Monday night in Abuja arrived in Nigeria on Sunday.
The delegation was reportedly received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by a combined team of security operatives and taken away from the airport.
The stakeholders’ meeting is expected to bring FIFA officials together with relevant Nigerian football stakeholders as discussions continue on issues concerning the country’s football administration.