Lai Mohammed: We’ll Bar Nigerian Companies From Sponsoring Foreign Football Clubs

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, disclosed on Tuesday that the Federal Government is working on plans to bar Nigerian companies from sponsoring foreign brands, football clubs inclusive.

Speaking at the close of the Creative Industry Financing conference in Lagos, Mr Mohammed said the plan would be done by amending the code of the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (NBC).

The minister said the government will not watch Nigerian company’s sponsor other foreign brands at the expense of indigenous brands in the country.

He advised those indigenous companies sponsoring foreign brands to invest the monies in local brands in Nigeria so as to boost the country’s economy.

“We will amend the NBC code to ensure that our Premier League improves,” Mr Mohammed said.

“We will make sure that in the code, if you spend one million dollars to support a foreign football club like Manchester United in Nigeria, you will not be allowed to air that programme unless you spend 30 per cent of that money to promote Nigeria’s league.

“Some beverage companies in Nigeria support Manchester United (Man U), Arsenal and others and spend about six million dollars a year.

“I then asked the question, how much of their products are being consumed over there?

“I was also told that a particular brand of Nigeria Beer is supporting several premier league teams to the tune of seven million dollars a year.

“We can imagine if they give us just 30 per cent of that, we will fix our stadia.

“I know they are going to attack me on this but I am not made a minister to sustain the economy of other countries.”

The legislation comes days after the minister said the government will bar artists and movie makers in Nigeria from shooting their works outside the country.