FIFA U-17 World Cup: Financial crisis hits LOC again – As Eaglets enter Q/Final, Wallop New Zealand 5 – 0 – Tribune
November 6, 2009 by Bunmi Awolusi
The main Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the ongoing FIFA U-17 World Cup is in serious financial mess. The LOC, according to investigation, needs N5 billion to offset its debts that had accrued during the course of organising the cadet championship.
It was gathered that the Federal Government had, on Friday, last week released a bailout of about N3 billion to the LOC for the smooth running of the championship but the LOC has, up till now, not disbursed it to the sub-committees, which have been starved of funds.
Further findings by the Nigerian Tribune revealed that chairmen of the various sub-committees, at a recent board meeting with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mallam Mainasara IIo, stated that the funds had not been disbursed to the sub-committees for effective running of the championship.
It was also gathered that the CEO refused to take directives from the board on the grounds that he was acting on orders from above. The CEO’s comment infuriated the chairman of the board, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, who told him that he (llo), was answerable only to the board.
