Niger Govt Disowns Tornadoes Technical Crew Sack, Awaits Appraisal Committee Report

By Daniel Ebi, Minna

A rift appears to be brewing between the Niger State Government and the management of Niger Tornadoes Football Club following the controversial dismissal of the club’s technical crew led by Coach Majin Mohammed.

The Chairman of the Niger State Sports Commission, Danjuma Abdul Masu, on Wednesday faulted the management’s decision, describing the action as unauthorized and beyond the powers vested in the club’s management.

Speaking while receiving the report of the eight-member appraisal committee headed by Bala Shehu in Minna, Masu stated that neither the State Government,

The Ministry of Sports Development nor the Sports Commission approved the dismissal of the technical crew.

“This is the first time such a high powered committee has been set up to review the performance of our club”.

According to him, the management acted unilaterally when it presented its end-of-season report to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports Development, Dr. Mohammed Ngaski, and subsequently announced the sack of the coaches.

“As far as we are concerned, the technical crew of Niger Tornadoes remains intact. The purported dismissal is of no effect because the management acted outside its mandate,” Masu declared.

He assured that the State Government would carefully study and implement the recommendations of the appraisal committee set up to investigate the club’s poor performance in the just-concluded Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season, during which the team narrowly escaped relegation on the final day.

The Sports Commission chairman emphasized that the committee’s assignment was not intended to witch-hunt any individual or group but to identify challenges and provide solutions for repositioning the club for greater success in the forthcoming season.

“Neither I nor any member of my staff had any contact with members of the committee with the intention of influencing the outcome of their report. If such ever happened, it could only have been in a dream,” he said.

Masu added that his leadership philosophy is guided by integrity and accountability.

“I am conscious of my responsibilities as a leader and the reality of divine judgment. The fear of God guides my actions because posterity will ultimately judge all our deeds,” he stated.

The Sports Commission chairman also apologized for the omission of women from the appraisal committee, assuring that future committees would be more inclusive.

Earlier, Chairman of the Committee, Bala Shehu, who is also the Registrar of Abdulkadir Kure University, Minna, said the panel engaged all critical stakeholders connected with the club before arriving at its recommendations.

He explained that the committee’s report was not designed to apportion blame but to provide practical solutions capable of moving Niger Tornadoes Football Club forward and restoring its competitiveness.

Niger Tornadoes finished the 2025/2026 NPFL season just above the relegation zone, prompting widespread concerns among supporters and stakeholders over the club’s direction and management.