ANDREW EKEJIUBA
The Ministry of Youths and Sports Development has urged all clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) to fulfil some basic conditions before the league can resume.
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 last week approved for sports activities to resume nationwide behind closed doors.
The PTF on COVID-19 through the implementation guideline for phase three of the eased lock down on September 3, granted permission for the resumption of sporting leagues without fans.
However, the Ministry of Youth and Sports through its Permanent Secretary, Gabriel Aduda, said the NPFL will only resume when basic conditions are met.
According to the Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, the domestic league will not commence immediately.
He said, “Indeed, the steps to return our football league to prime position is ongoing.
“The domestic league will not commence until the regulations and controls in the aspect of financial and licensing control are put in place.
“The Nigeria Football Federation must put clubs on notice and enforce these regulations and controls as stipulated, otherwise the Nigerian professional and amateur leagues would not be approved for resumption.”
Dare has also asked the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to communicate with the NPFL clubs on the need to comply with the financial controls and regulation before a resumption date for the league will be fixed.
To this effect, a COVID-19 monitoring has also been set up to monitor clubs compliance with the guidelines.
The NPFL was suspended in March due to the outbreak of the COVID-19.
The League Management Company (LMC) had said the 2020-2021 NPFL season will resume in September or October.