After much media pressure, the Nigeria Football Federdation, NFF has finally confirmed that it has received  world football governing body, FIFA Covid-19 palliative fund, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

The NFF President Amaju Pinnick who made the confirmation Wednesday also issued directives to beneficiaries after the country’s football body received $1million from FIFA as COVID-19 palliatives.

Pinnick urged beneficiaries of the $1 million to ensure hundred percent compliance to guidelines by ensuring that all funds are paid into designated accounts.

The NFF boss, in a series of tweets via his Twitter account on Wednesday, also thanked FIFA for the kind gesture and wished FIFA’s President, Gianni Infantino, a speedy recovery from COVID-19 infection.

“Huge appreciation to football’s world governing body, @FIFAcom, for the $1 million (one million dollars) the Federation has received in the frame of COVID-19 palliatives. The money was received by the @thenff and we re-confirmed the purpose from FIFA two days ago,” Pinnick tweeted.

“@FIFAcom also sent $600,000 to the Federation for the FIFA Forward 2.0 projects in Birnin-Kebbi and Ugborodo. At $300,000 each, it will enable the mini-stadia in both centers to start at a very good pace, as we earmark completion by the end of March 2021.

“As a further breakdown, the $1 million for palliatives is composed of $500,000 for men’s football and $500,000 for the women’s game. FIFA has also promised to send the Federation an additional $500,000 sometime in January 2021, also as part of COVID-19 palliative efforts.

“On the continent, we have received confirmation from @CAF_Online that the Federation will receive the expected $300,000 from the Confederation on or before Sunday, the 1st of November. With the $200,000 we have already ring-fenced from our sponsors’ funds for the purpose the coast will then be clear for us to start the disbursement of funds to the beneficiaries, as captured in our approved template, from next week.

“Even though we are bolstered by the guidelines from FIFA strictly outlying the purposes of these funds as well as the approval of the @thenff Executive Board, we will also interface with our auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers, on each and every line item, to ensure the disbursements conform to global best practices.

“Beneficiaries MUST ensure 100% compliance to guidelines by ensuring that all funds are paid into designated accounts.

“I would also like to thank all beneficiaries for their patience and understanding at these trying times.

“Finally, I would like to wish @FIFAcom President, Gianni Infantino God’s speed as he recovers. Thank you.”

The NFF came under serious media scrutiny few weeks ago after it was reported that the federation received the FIFA palliatives as far back as May this year.

FIFA and CAF had doled out COVID-19 relief funds for their members associations to help cushion the impact of the virous in football development.

In August, the NFF rolled out template on how it would share the FIFA/CAF $1.5 million dollar in addition to $500, 000 from NFF sponsors

It said the $2 million would be “shared across the various clubs and governing bodies of the various leagues, including Nigeria Professional Football League, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and the Nigeria Nationwide League, as a booster for their preparation ahead of the 2020/2021 League Season.

“The total sum is made up of $1,000,000 (being FIFA’s support for restarting the football season); $500,0000 (being FIFA’s dedicated support for women’s football); $300,000 (CAF’s support to its member associations); and $200,000 (NFF’s support from Sponsors’ Funds).”