President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has called for a strategic overhaul of refereeing in Nigeria, urging the recruitment of younger officials and emphasizing the need for computer literacy as key steps toward improving standards.
Gusau made this known on Wednesday while receiving the new executive team of the Nigeria Referees Association at the NFF Secretariat in Abuja.
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The visit was to commiserate with the federation over the passing of the Head of NFF Refereeing Unit and former NRA President, Sani Zubair.
Reaffirming the federation’s commitment to sanitizing refereeing in the country, Gusau charged the new leadership to take firm decisions on critical issues such as age limits, educational standards, and digital competence.
“I strongly believe that any serious recruitment drive should target younger individuals. In fact, we should be looking at bringing in talents from junior secondary school level. Recruiting older individuals will only slow down the development process toward achieving FIFA-level referees,” Gusau stated.
He also stressed the growing importance of digital skills in modern officiating, noting that referees are now required to produce detailed reports.
“There is an urgent need for computer literacy. Referees must be able to compile and submit comprehensive reports. The NFF is ready to support this initiative, but it must be formalized through the referees’ congress,” he added.
The NFF boss further disclosed plans to train at least 10 Nigerian referees on the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology before the end of the year, in line with global best practices.
Gusau paid tribute to the late Zubair, describing him as a dedicated servant of Nigerian football who carried out his duties with integrity and professionalism.
Also speaking, NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, urged the new NRA leadership to take decisive action against recurring poor officiating in the domestic league.
“We have referees capable of excelling at the highest levels, even at the FIFA World Cup, but external influences often derail their progress. This must be addressed decisively,” Sanusi said.
In response, Acting President of the NRA, Kelechi Mejuobi, assured that the new executive would intensify efforts to restore credibility to the profession, warning that indiscipline and unethical practices would attract strict sanctions.
The meeting was attended by several key stakeholders, including former NRA President Ahmed Maude, senior officials, and zonal coordinators, all pledging support for reforms aimed at elevating refereeing standards across Nigeria.
