The Chairman of the Federal Capital Territory Football Association, Adam Mohammed, has welcomed the decision to significantly increase the prize money for the Nigeria Premier Football League, describing it as a positive step toward strengthening the country’s domestic football scene.
The National Sports Commission recently announced a new reward structure that will see the winners of the 2026/27 NPFL season receive N1 billion, a fivefold increase from the previous N200 million prize. Teams finishing second and third will earn N800 million and N700 million respectively, while clubs throughout the league standings will also receive financial incentives.
Mohammed praised the initiative, saying it demonstrates growing confidence in the future of Nigerian football.
“Full credit goes to the NSC, the Nigeria Football Federation, and the NPFL for making a statement that matches the scale of our football potential,” he said.
While acknowledging the significance of the financial boost, he argued that meaningful progress in the league would require more than improved rewards. According to him, issues relating to administration, infrastructure, commercial growth and fan engagement must also be addressed.
“A massive incentive is welcome, but it should not be mistaken for a fully functional football system. If the league is not commercially viable, properly televised, safe for players, and trusted by fans, the prize money alone will not transform it,” Mohammed said.
He noted that clubs must evolve into professionally managed organisations capable of generating steady income and operating sustainably.
“The real objective should be building clubs that no longer struggle for survival but compete confidently on and off the pitch,” he said.
Mohammed further stressed the importance of investing in quality sporting facilities, youth development programmes and transparent governance structures to help Nigerian clubs regain their competitiveness across Africa.
He also challenged major companies in the private sector to play a greater role in football development by investing beyond sponsorship deals.
“Banks, telecommunications firms, airlines, energy companies, media organisations, and manufacturers all have roles to play in football’s value chain,” he said.
“Our ambition should not be limited to offering the biggest prize money in Africa. We should focus on building the continent’s most-watched, most-trusted, and most-talent-producing league. That is the real trophy.”
The football administrator maintained that Nigeria possesses the talent and resources required to become a dominant force on the continent but has often struggled with implementation.
“What we have often lacked is transparency, accountability, and commercial discipline. This announcement can be a turning point if implementation matches the ambition,” Mohammed said.
As part of the broader reforms announced by the NSC, NPFL players will now earn a minimum monthly salary of N2 million, replacing the previous benchmark of N150,000. Authorities believe the increase will improve players’ welfare, discourage talent migration and raise the standard of competition.
Plans are also underway to expand television coverage of the league, with sports administrators insisting that wider broadcast exposure is essential to the NPFL’s growth and commercial success.
