In what appears to be a middle way out of the ownership tussle between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Lagos State Football Association, (LSFA) veteran stakeholder, Arthur Kwame believes compromise is the best solution.
Kwame who served Lagos and the nation has the History of the disputed NFF Liaison Office,at 146/148 Ogunlana Drive Surulere, Lagos at the back of his hand.. The nonagenarian was in possession of the receipt which was issued after purchase in the First Republic.
He said: “We can reach a compromise, there’s no need to fight over the property. There are two wings there, the NFF and LSFA can find space to accommodate their offices within. I was Secretary of the Lagos Amateur Football Association.”
In a letter dated September 9, 2026, the NFF through Queen Otarakpo who signed on behalf the Acting Secretary – General asked LSFA to vacate the Liaison Office for renovation work to begin, with a reminder that what brought Lagos to the property was the retouching of the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan.
According to Otarakpo, the NFF generously allowed LSFA to use the office until completion of renovation work at Onikan. That done, Glass House Abuja advised LSFA to return to their original headquarters at Onikan which is wearing a befitting look.
However, LSFA Chairman, Hajji Gafar went down memory lane to bring a Historical perspective to the dispute. His submission favours Lagos over and above the NFF directive which sounds more like a tenant ordering the landlord out of his house.
In Gafar’s words, “For the purpose of clarity and Historical record, I wish to state that the property was acquired by the Lagos Amateur Football Association (LAFA) under the chairmanship of Alhaji Alex Oni, from the Lagos Executive Development Board (LEDB), then located at Idumagbo Street, Lagos Island.”
The LSFA boss added that, “ Historical records indicate that Chief Fadahunsi was the Chief Executive of the of LEDB which today is known as the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC).” This is a position supported by many who followed football in the 1960s.
Kwame waded in. “Yes, Baba Alex Oni bought it as a camp from Chief Fadahunsi and paid cash. I had the receipt but I can’t find it anymore. Oni was Chairman of LAFA and managed the football team of Lagos City Council (LCC) where he worked as an Executive Officer, in charge of Environment.
“I was Secretary of LAFA. In 1963, Clement Ndukwe of Railway Football Club was elected Chairman but was later replaced after a no confidence vote. At that time, Israel Adebajo, founder of Stationery Stores Football Club and Nigeria Football Association Treasurer, was made Acting Chairman of LAFA.”
Oni later returned as LAFA Chairman and allowed the NFA(now NFF) to use the facility as camp if the need arose. I remember Chief Eddie Enwere, telling me that he was a member of the first set of Junior Eagles invited by Coach Dan Anyiam in 1965.
That squad which also had former Enugu Rangers and East Central State Spartans captain, Dominic Nwobodo used the Ogunlana Camp. Enwere disappeared from after his elder brother, Joshua wondered why a serious young man would choose soccer over academics. Their father had threatened to disown the defender, known as ‘Bone Breaker’.
Dr. Patrick Ekeji also used the camp in 1971/ 1972 as a Nigerian Academical when they played against their Ghanaian counterparts. That team included captain Godwin Ogbueze, Christian Chukwu, Kenneth Ilodigwe, Emilio John, Tunde Marin’s and Marcellus Obinatu.
“As a Nigerian Academical in 1971/1972, Ogunlana Drive was our camp base. I don’t know if it was on rent or lease but it was used by the then NFA as far as I remember. I believe the NFF still uses it. It might not be wrong to say it belongs to the NFA, now NFF” Ekeji said.
There is also the Ikazoboh angle. As Sports minister in 1989, he ordered the various Sports associations to vacate the National Stadium, Lagos and look for offices elsewhere. The NFF moved to Ogunlana Drive, Boxing Association under Col. Whyte Ukor chose Apapa while Abdul Kareem Amu took Athletics to Surulere.
Kwame and Gafar insist that relocating to Ogunlana did not confer ownership on the NFF. When the Nigerian Professional Football League took off in 1990, Kwame represented Lagos State on the Board. And both the NFF and NPFL shared the premises.
Mitchel Obi seems to have the joker. As Special Adviser to Ikazoboh, he maintains that ownership really changed hands. The Sports Minister, an ‘Eko Brought Up,’ formalised the deal with Lagos. Obi does not want to let the cat out of the bag yet.
Kwame has applied wisdom. It will help. He understands Lagos politics and Nigerian football. At St. Gregory’s College, Obalende, between 1954 and 1959, the young man played football and cricket. Ekassa King, Sir Victor Uwaifo, a High Jumper, was his junior.
After secondary school Kwame joined broadcasting. He was recruited by his Biology teacher, Monsignor Pedro Martins who presented a Programme at Radio Nigeria. “You have a good voice, let’s go to the studio”, was the short interview. Many did not know that Kwame was a member of the UAC team that lost to Ibadan Lions in the 1961 Challenge Cup final.
Kwame was a Junior Trainee Manager at UAC, then trained as a coach and joined Nigeria Tobacco Company, under scholarship to the United Kingdom, in 1967. Sent to Northern Nigeria , he quit and returned to LAFA, thanks to Pa Oni. From coaching the next job was Secretary, Lagos Commercial Football League.
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