National Sports Commission has defended its decision to decline former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi’s request to meet Nigeria’s under-17 women’s team, the Flamingos, at the Abuja airport.
NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, explained in a statement on Monday that Obi’s request to meet and take photographs with the players was not scheduled.
He said the team had just returned from Morocco at about 5:30 a.m. after a demanding tournament and needed adequate rest.
Dikko added that the players were minors and had a safeguarding officer responsible for protecting their welfare, dignity and privacy.
He stressed that engagements with the team must be properly arranged and should not create the impression of political affiliation.
The NSC chairman also disputed Obi’s account of a similar incident involving the Super Eagles in Uyo in March 2025, saying the players had requested privacy after their match against Zimbabwe.
He maintained that no official, including himself, entered the dressing room, while access was also governed by FIFA accreditation and security protocols.
Dikko urged Obi to apologise to the Flamingos, insisting that the young players should not be drawn into political controversy.
