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DSS, NIA Probe NFF Officials Over Alleged Links With Foreign Interests, Threats To National Security
The Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) are investigating allegations that some top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have been communicating with foreign interests in ways that could undermine Nigeria’s national security.
A security source said the two intelligence agencies intercepted what was described as highly disturbing communication between the affected NFF officials and some foreign nationals, prompting an investigation into the nature of the exchanges and their possible implications for the country.
The source did not disclose the identities of the officials or foreign nationals allegedly involved, nor provide details of the communications said to have been intercepted.
However, the source stressed that the investigation concerned alleged threats to national security rather than questions surrounding the management of funds at the football federation.
Asked whether the probe was connected with the N17 billion intervention fund released to address outstanding salaries and bonuses owed to players and officials of Nigeria’s national teams, the source said financial impropriety would ordinarily fall within the mandate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
“It is true that President Bola Tinubu in 2024 approved N17 billion as a special intervention fund to help NFF clear outstanding payments owed to Nigeria’s national teams. However, that falls within the purview of the EFCC, not the DSS and NIA,” the source said.
According to the source, the involvement of both the domestic and external intelligence agencies indicates that the allegations under investigation extend beyond financial matters.
“The mandate of the DSS is on dealing with domestic threats to national security. The NIA deals with external threats. So, when you hear that the DSS and NIA are jointly investigating a matter, it has got to be very serious, especially when the persons involved are saddled with the responsibility of managing an important body like the NFF,” the source added.
There was no immediate official statement from either the DSS or NIA detailing the investigation, while the specific allegations against the affected NFF officials had also not been publicly established.
The development comes at a difficult period for Nigerian football, with the NFF facing growing criticism from supporters over the performances and management of the country’s national teams.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles missed out on consecutive FIFA World Cups, while the Super Falcons also failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil — the first time Nigeria would be absent from the tournament since its inception in 1991.
The Super Falcons lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, ending their title defence and denying them an automatic World Cup qualification opportunity.
Nigeria subsequently faced South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in the qualification playoff but suffered a 2-1 defeat, ending the country’s record of participation in every edition of the Women’s World Cup.
The setbacks have intensified pressure on the NFF executive committee headed by Ibrahim Gusau, amid claims that more than half of the committee’s members have resigned or are considering doing so.
An insider suggested that the uncertainty within the federation could be connected with concerns about the reported intelligence investigation, although no evidence establishing such a connection was provided.
“That at least half of NFF executive have or are contemplating resignation, may not be unconnected with the fear of DSS and NIA probe, fuelling fears on the possibility of holding the NFF board election scheduled for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State,” the insider said.
The investigation consequently adds another layer of uncertainty ahead of the proposed NFF board election, at a time when the federation is already under intense scrutiny following the recent setbacks suffered by the national teams.
The NFF officials mentioned in connection with the allegations have not been identified, and no finding of wrongdoing has been announced by either intelligence agency.
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