Sunday Dare, Nigeria’s Minister of Youths and Sports Development, has said that the new NPFL reason will start before the end of 2020.
The Minister disclosed this to journalists in Lagos during his inspection tour of the Surulere national stadium in Lagos State.
Dare said the development followed consultations with the Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick and other relevant government agencies.
He said that club owners have been informed of the new safety protocols to prevent the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. He added that similar protocols enforced prior to the commencement of the female league would apply to the NPFL league.
Dare said, “If you want your club to play, you must follow the football rules, I’m sorry that’s why that league hasn’t started, I am glad the female league has started. I said it earlier on the same thing with the female league as well, if we end up with six serious clubs we will start the league.”
“We have written to the government owners of these clubs and we had explained now, we are in a new enforcement regime which is critical and how we are able to sustain that enforcement. We have spoken to the NFF.”
He added, “I spoke to Amaju that, before this year ends our professional league must start.”