The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) board and club owners have officially outlawed the sale of promotion slots as part of sweeping reforms to strengthen governance and restore credibility to the country’s top-tier football.
The decision was reached at the NPFL’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), where stakeholders agreed on a series of measures designed to promote integrity, boost investor interest, and ensure transparency across the league.
Under the new regulation, if a club withdraws or fails to meet the licensing requirements, the vacant position will no longer be available for sale.
Instead, it will be offered to the next eligible club in the Nigeria National League (NNL), starting with the fifth-placed team.
Remo Stars lifts NPFL 2024/2025 title ahead of Rivers United. Photo Credit; X
This marks a significant departure from previous seasons when relegated teams could secure a place in the NPFL by acquiring a promotion slot from another club a practice that had drawn widespread criticism.
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Speaking on the reform, NPFL Chairman Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye revealed the league’s proactive efforts to prevent multiple club ownership and discourage the backdoor entry of clubs into the top flight.
“We even approached Sporting Lagos about taking that slot (Beyond Limits FA’s NPFL slot) without paying anything,” Elegbeleye explained.
“It was simply because we did not want an entity to own two clubs in the Premier League that is not what we want. And it happened that Beyond Limits and Remo Stars are from the same source.”
Despite attempts to find a sporting solution to the vacancy, several clubs declined the offer.
“Sporting Lagos said no, they preferred to go and compete again in the NNL. We approached Gombe United they said no. So, we left it for them to negotiate, and eventually Heartland took it.”
Elegbeleye emphasized that under the new regulatory framework, slot sales will no longer be tolerated under any circumstance.
“In a situation where we don’t have that (the Remo Stars/Beyond Limits scenario), we would not allow [the sale of a NPFL slot].”
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In addition to the slot-sale ban, the NPFL has also introduced new governance standards.
Club chairmen must now sign a minimum three-year contract, while other senior executives are required to commit to at least two-year terms. Clubs failing to comply with these new standards will face stiff sanctions from the league body.
The reforms are expected to take effect immediately, ahead of the 2025/26 NPFL season.
