BEVERLY HILLS, January 18, (THEWILL) – In a bid to effectively monitor the overall compliance with COVID-19 health and safety protocols in the domestic competitions, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed some individuals into a special COVID-19 Task Force.
Among other responsibilities as enumerated in the terms of reference involved in setting up the unique unit, the task force will be assigned the charge of working with the various League bodies under the jurisdiction of the NFF to ensure compliance with the conduct of safety protocols by all football clubs at all levels in the Leagues.
The head of the task force is the chairman of the NFF Security Committee and Member of the Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau. Other members of the unit who will support him are eminent medical practitioners such as Dr Kweku Tandoh, Dr Nekwu Okolugbo, Dr Rotimi Ogungbe and Dr Babatunde Akinbinu.
Barrister Chris Green, the chairman of the Rivers State Football Association and former Member of the NFF Executive Committee, is also a member of the task force and will, together with the others as one unit, recommend an effective and efficient way of verifying COVID-19 test reports submitted by all football clubs and officials at League venues for the safety of all especially with the second wave of COVID-19 spikes in the country.
Full Membership of the Task Force:
Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (Chairman)
Barrister Chris Green (Member)
Dr Kweku Tandoh (Member)
Dr Rotimi Ogungbe (Member)
Dr Nekwu Okolugbo (Member)
Dr Babatunde Akinbinu (Member)
Mohammed Mala Zanna (Member)
Bello Abubakar Sokoto (Member)
Hassan Abdullahi Garo (Member)
Mr Sunday Longbap (Member)
Sir E. C. Chukwuemeka (Member)
Mrs Catherine Opara (Member)
Alhaji Salihu Abubakar (Member)
Ms Modupe Shabi (Member)
Mallam Mohammed Ameenu (Secretary).
TERMS OF REFERENCE
1. To ensure all football clubs in all the various leagues have received the COVID-19 Protocols and Guidelines for the re-opening of contact sports developed by the FMYSD in collaboration with the PTF on COVID-19 and the NCDC.
2. To work with the various League Bodies to monitor compliance with the COVID-19 Protocols by all the football clubs at all levels of the Leagues.
3. To put in place an effective monitoring system to ensure compliance with COVID-19 Protocols at all League match venues.
4. To recommend an effective and efficient way of verifying COVID-19 Test reports submitted by all the football clubs and officials at all the leagues venues.
5. To recommend ways of ensuring the safety and well-being of players, officials and spectators at all match venues in line with the COVID-19 Protocols.
6. To come up with various ways and means that the NFF and the League Bodies can support the football clubs in ensuring compliance with the COVID-19 Protocols.
7. To recommend to the NFF, punitive actions to be taken against football clubs and/or individuals found to have contravened the COVID-19 Protocols.
8. To regularly monitor the COVID-19 situation in the country and advise the NFF accordingly with regards to further necessary action.
It will be the responsibility of the Committee to provide a detailed report fortnightly to the NFF Football Committee and the NFF Medical Committee through the Office of the NFF General Secretary based on their terms of reference.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
