The Department of State Services (DSS) has joined other security agencies investigating how the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) used a N17bn Federal Government intervention fund intended to pay national team players’ wages and bonuses.
The funding was approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 to settle outstanding payments owed to members of Nigeria’s national teams.
An authoritative source told Vanguard that the DSS was examining the actions of NFF officials and seeking documentation to establish how the money released to the federation’s headquarters, commonly known as the Glass house, was spent.
“It’s a normal thing for DSS to go through all documents relating to the funds released them’’, our source said, dismissing suggestions that the investigation amounted to a witch hunt or an attempt to hound federation officials.
The inquiry comes as Nigerian football faces growing public scrutiny over the management of its national teams and a period of serious decline.
The Super Eagles have missed successive FIFA World Cups, while the Super Falcons have suffered the historic failure of not qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria’s women’s side lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). That defeat ended the Super Falcons’ title defence and meant they missed out on automatic qualification for the World Cup.
They were subsequently required to take part in a play-off route involving South Africa. Banyana Banyana then defeated Nigeria’s Super Falcons 2-1 in the Women’s World Cup qualification play-off.
The result ended Nigeria’s record of appearing at every FIFA Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 1991. It is the first time the country has failed to qualify for the tournament.
The NFF executive committee, led by Ibrahim Gusau, is under intense pressure to resign after the succession of failures. That pressure has increased following the resignation of more than half of the board’s members.
Eight of the 13 members of the NFF board have allegedly left their positions. The development could affect the scheduled elections for the next NFF board, due to take place in Lafia, Nasarawa, on 27 September.
The investigation into the N17bn intervention fund adds to the pressure on the federation at a time when its leadership is already facing criticism over the performance and administration of Nigeria’s national teams.
The fund was specifically released by the Federal Government to clear outstanding payments for players, including wages and bonuses. The DSS review is expected to focus on records and other documents relating to the money provided to the NFF.
