Presidential candidate of the New Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi has raised concerns over the state of Nigerian domestic football, lamenting the sparse crowds at league matches and warning that the country is squandering its immense youth potential. Obi made the remarks while attending a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday Six fixture at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, where he watched Ikorodu City secure an impressive 2-0 victory over reigning champions Enugu Rangers.
Sitting in the stands alongside Ikorodu City President Sanmi Doherty, Obi pointed out that despite a capacity of around 10,000, the stadium saw a turnout of fewer than 2,000 spectators, highlighting a broader fan-engagement crisis in domestic football. Obi argued that while Nigeria possesses limitless athletic talent, the country lacks the institutional vision and infrastructure required to transform that passion into sustainable livelihoods and career opportunities for young people.
“It pained me to see how poorly we are developing sports in Nigeria. A stadium with a capacity of about 10,000 had fewer than 2,000 spectators. “Nigeria has no shortage of sporting talent. What we lack is the vision and commitment to turn that talent into opportunities for our young people. “Sport is not merely entertainment; properly developed, it can be a powerful tool for youth development, employment, and social transformation,” he said.