30th April, 2020
Amaju Pinnick, president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Thursday, said the decision on the resumption of football activities in the country will be taken after consultations with the health ministry and FIFA.
Pinnick made this known in a statement he authored via his verified Twitter account.
On the 18th of March, 2020, the NFF suspended football activities in the country due to the outbreak of coronavirus.
However, Pinnick’s latest announcement became necessary after the Federal Government of Nigeria announced the gradual easing of lockdown in the country.
But, Amaju Pinnick noted that, despite the gradual easing of the lockdown in Nigeria, football will not be played without approval from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
Please read Amaju Pinnick’s statement below
Good morning.
It has been a difficult few months for everybody, with the spread of this novel coronavirus, and it has hit us in the Nigerian football community especially hard.
I have to applaud the government’s efforts to stem the spread while appealing that we all continue to listen to federal and state health directives on social distancing and personal hygiene.
However, with the Federal Government’s plan to slowly ease restrictions from May 4, I have gotten a few enquiries about the resumption of football in the country.
As much as we all want football to resume, it is not as important as life and public health. So we will be having consultations with the health ministry and Fifa, and more importantly, waiting for the go-ahead from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development before any sort of football will be played.
These are unprecedented times. From sponsors to federations and clubs; the future will be tough indeed. But I’m confident that we will all pull through this, as long as we listen to health advisories from our government. I’m in constant contact with our footballers and administrators and everybody is confident we all pull through these times.
Again, I would like to thank every Nigerian for their patience and assure all of us that Nigerian football, my primary constituency, will weather this storm.
Meanwhile, as part of my commitment to be more accessible, I have opened an Instagram account as well.
Hopefully, that platform will be another avenue for direct communication, advice, and well-meaning critique.
My handle is @amajumelvinpinnick on Instagram. Try not to laugh too much at some of my pictures and videos. I would have been a terrible model if I had gone into it.
On a more serious note, let’s always remember to wash our hands with soap and running water for a minimum of 20 seconds, use face masks when going outside and maintain social distancing.
Thank you, Nigeria, for your continued support and criticism of the Nigeria Football Federation.
God protect and keep us all.