COVID-19: NFF Confirms Receipt Of $1m FIFA Grant

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, says the federation has received FIFA’s $1m COVID-19 relief fund.

FIFA had in June disclosed that it would spend $1.2bn as COVID-19 relief funds to member associations to cushion the financial effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

All member associations got a universal solidarity grant of $1m, with an additional $500,000 grant specifically for women’s football.

Pinnick, in a series of tweets monitored by our correspondent on Wednesday, confirmed that the federation had received the money, adding that plans were already in place for the disbursement to the various beneficiaries from next week.

“Huge appreciation to football’s world governing body, for the $1m the federation has received in the frame of COVID-19 palliatives. The money was received by the NFF and we re-confirmed the purpose from FIFA two days ago,” Pinnick tweeted.

“As a further break down, the $1m for palliatives is composed of $500,000 for men’s football and $500,000 for the women’s game. FIFA has also promised to send the federation an additional $500,000 sometime in January 2021, also as part of COVID-19 palliative efforts.

“FIFA also sent $600,000 to the federation for the FIFA Forward 2.0 projects in Birnin-Kebbi and Ugborodo. At $300,000 each, it will enable the mini-stadia in both centers to start at a very good pace, as we earmark completion by the end of March 2021.”

He added, “On the continent, we have received confirmation from CAF that the federation will receive the expected $300,000 from the confederation on or before Sunday, November 1. With the $200,000 we have already ring-fenced from our sponsors’ funds for the purpose.

“The coast will then be clear for us to start the disbursement of funds to the beneficiaries, as captured in our approved template, from next week.

“Even though we are bolstered by the guidelines from FIFA strictly outlying the purposes of these funds as well as the approval of the NFF Executive Board, we will also interface with our auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers, on each and every line item, to ensure the disbursements conform to global best practices.

“Beneficiaries MUST ensure 100 per cent compliance to guidelines by ensuring that all funds are paid into designated accounts.”