By
Arinz Izik
DSS operatives and police officers have taken over the Nigeria Football Federation headquarters in Abuja ahead of a high-level meeting with officials from FIFA, the world football governing body.
According to Daily Sun, access to the NFF secretariat was extremely restricted on Monday. Visitors and stakeholders faced tough screening at the gate, with only a handful permitted entry while many others were turned back.
More than 20 armed security personnel arrived in several official vehicles and were stationed around the premises. Armed and on alert, they monitored all movement in and around the complex.
Journalists were barred from entering. An attempt by our correspondent to access the building was blocked on the grounds that a top management meeting was in progress. The operatives said they were acting on “orders from above” that prohibited media personnel from entering or working within the secretariat.
Earlier in the day, an official vehicle with State House number plates was seen at the secretariat. It delivered files containing documents ahead of the meeting.
Meanwhile, the FIFA delegation expected for the stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for tonight in Abuja landed in Nigeria on Sunday night. Sources said a joint team of security operatives received them on arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and escorted them to the capital.
The meeting is expected to address key issues between FIFA and the NFF.
