The Department of State Services (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) are investigating allegations that some senior officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) may have links with foreign interests in activities considered capable of threatening Nigeria’s national security.
A security source, who disclosed this on Tuesday, said the two intelligence agencies had intercepted what was described as “highly disturbing” communications between some NFF officials and foreign nationals.
According to the source, the alleged communications raised concerns among security authorities and prompted the joint investigation.
The source stressed that the probe was not limited to financial matters, saying the allegations being investigated were considered to have possible national security implications.
Asked whether the investigation was connected to the N17 billion intervention fund approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 for the NFF to settle outstanding payments owed to Nigeria’s national teams, the source said financial issues involving the fund would fall under the jurisdiction 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.
The source explained that while the DSS is responsible for addressing domestic security threats, the NIA focuses primarily on external intelligence.
“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.
The reported investigation comes amid growing criticism of the NFF over the management, funding and performance of Nigeria’s national football teams.
The Super Eagles have missed successive FIFA World Cup tournaments, while the Super Falcons recently suffered another major setback in their bid to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria’s women’s team lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), ending their title defence and forcing them into the World Cup qualification playoff route.
The Falcons subsequently lost 2-1 to South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in the playoff, bringing an end to Nigeria’s record of featuring in every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the women’s tournament began in 1991.
The NFF executive committee, led by its president, Ibrahim Gusau, has consequently faced increasing pressure, with calls from some quarters for the board to resign over what critics describe as a series of failures.
The pressure has reportedly intensified following the resignation, or reported plans to resign, of more than half of the executive committee members.
The security source suggested that the reported resignations could be connected to concerns surrounding the ongoing DSS and NIA investigation.
The allegations, however, could not be independently verified as of press time, while the DSS and NIA had not publicly confirmed the reported investigation.
The NFF has also not publicly responded to the allegations.
