NPFL, GTI not aware of bumper N2.5bn deal

NPFL, GTI not aware of bumper N2.5bn deal

The bumper N2.5 billion record-breaking deal for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) was news to both the league body leadership and its Strategic Partner, GTI, www.sportsunlimited.ng reports.

A week to the announcement by the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC), information pointing to the deal was leaked and on inquiry by Sportsunlimited, it was gathered that both the NPFL and GTI were not carried along with the development.

A top official of the NPFL told this writer to disclose the source of the then proposed deal, an indication that he was hearing it for the first time.

This was after attempt to verify the information from the NPFL Strategic Partner, GTI proved futile as the official contacted for confirmation denied knowledge of the development.

Sportsunlimited can exclusively report that a fence-mending meeting between the NSC, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the NPFL and GTI has been scheduled for Tuesday next week in Abuja.

It could be recalled that the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) approved sweeping reforms designed to transform the country’s top-flight competition.

At the centre of the changes is a record-breaking prize package that will make the NPFL one of the richest leagues on the African continent, according to NSC boss Shehu Dikko.

Under the new structure, the league champions will receive a minimum of N1 billion at the end of the season. This is a huge jump from the N150 million to N200 million range that winners received in recent years.

Clubs that finish second are expected to earn N500 million, while third-placed teams would receive N300 million. In total, a proposed ₦2.5 billion prize pool will be distributed across the league table to ensure more clubs benefit from their performances.

Player welfare has also received major attention. The NSC has approved a compulsory minimum salary of N2 million per month for every player in the NPFL. The move is aimed at improving living conditions for footballers and reducing the trend of talented Nigerian players leaving for lower-paying leagues abroad.

The league is also expanding its television reach. Through a partnership involving Inview Technologies and Nigeria’s Digital Switch Over (DSO) platform, NPFL matches will now be available on a dedicated free-to-air channel. Games will be broadcast on NigComSat and across several state television stations, giving millions of Nigerians easier access to domestic football.

In addition, clubs will be required to meet tougher licensing standards. Stadiums must install standard floodlights, provide reliable backup power systems and improve matchday facilities. League authorities have also promised strict sanctions, including points deductions, for clubs involved in crowd violence or security breaches. Refereeing standards are expected to improve further with the gradual introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology following the recent adoption of communication headsets for officials.

With a ₦1 billion winner’s prize, equivalent to roughly $730,000, Nigeria has moved ahead of Morocco’s Botola Pro, where champions earn between $600,000 and $640,000. The NPFL has also surpassed the Egyptian Premier League, whose title prize stands at around $500,000, and Tanzania’s Ligi Kuu Bara, where champions receive approximately $240,000 to $250,000.

Although Nigeria’s prize money now ranks among the best on the continent, some of Africa’s biggest clubs still operate with larger budgets. Teams such as Al Ahly, Zamalek and Mamelodi Sundowns continue to pay their top stars significantly higher salaries than most NPFL clubs can currently afford.