Clemens Westerhof, the Dutch coach who guided Nigeria’s Super Eagles through one of the most glorious periods in the country’s football history, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to help relocate the house he was awarded by the Federal Government to a safer part of the country.
Westerhof, who remains deeply attached to Nigeria decades after leaving his post, says the location of the property in a remote part of Gwagwalada, near Kuje in the Federal Capital Territory, has made it difficult for him and his family to enjoy the home or even visit the country without security concerns.
The former Super Eagles coach was engaged in 1989 and quickly transformed the national team into one of Africa’s most formidable sides.
Under his leadership, Nigeria won the silver medal at the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations, followed by a bronze medal at the 1992 tournament in Senegal. The Super Eagles defeated Cameroon 2-1 in the third-place match, with goals from Friday Ekpo and Rashidi Yekini.
Westerhof eventually completed the remarkable journey in 1994, leading Nigeria to AFCON glory in Tunisia and qualifying the country for its first-ever FIFA World Cup.
At the 1994 World Cup in the United States, the Super Eagles made a strong impression with their attacking football and fearless performances. Nigeria was regarded among the tournament’s most entertaining teams and rose to fifth in the FIFA world rankings, the highest position ever achieved by an African national team at the time.
Following the historic campaign, then military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, promised houses to members of the squad and officials.
While some beneficiaries received their houses relatively quickly, Westerhof had to wait three decades before finally receiving his.
His long-standing reward was eventually delivered during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. The keys to the house were presented to him by the then Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola.
“It’s taken a long go-slow, but I feel happy that my second country has fulfilled its promise to me,” Westerhof said after receiving the property.
“I always say Nigeria gave me everything as a man and in football. You can see that I wasn’t wrong. I thank everyone involved in making this happen,” he added.
However, the former coach’s joy has been overshadowed by concerns over the location of the four-bedroom bungalow.
According to Westerhof, security concerns in the area, particularly the threat of kidnapping, have made the property unsuitable for him and his family.
In an open letter to President Tinubu, the Dutchman said: “The house is located in a remote area of Gwagwalada, near Kuje, within the Federal Capital Territory. It’s in a remote part of FCT.
“And because of the prevailing security concerns, including the risk of kidnapping, we have been strongly advised that it is unsafe for us to live there or even visit whenever we travel to Nigeria.”
Westerhof said he had already raised the issue with the former Minister of Housing, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, during a recent visit to Nigeria.
The meeting was facilitated by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko.
Dangiwa reportedly assured Westerhof that the government would consider his request for a new allocation and resolve the matter within months.
“For all you did for Nigeria, the reallocation you’re asking for would be done with all pleasure,” Dangiwa told the former coach during the meeting.
“In a few months, that will be done,” the minister assured him, while also asking whether he preferred another bungalow or an apartment in a more secure location.
However, following the change in leadership at the Ministry of Housing, Westerhof says the matter appears to have stalled, prompting him to appeal directly to President Tinubu.
For the coach, the issue is not simply about owning a house. It is about being able to return to a country he considers his second home and spend time there with his family without fear.
“Nigeria has given me memories that I will cherish forever. The affection of the Nigerian people has never faded, neither has my affection for Nigeria,” Westerhof said.
“I remain proud to have worn the green and white with honour. I remain proud of every player, every supporter, and every Nigerian who believed in us.”
Concluding his appeal to President Tinubu, Westerhof wrote: “Your Excellency, I humbly ask for your kind intervention so that this matter may be resolved. It would mean more to my family than words can express, and it would reaffirm the enduring bond between Nigeria and one of its grateful former coaches.”
For the man who helped deliver Nigeria’s most celebrated football era, the request is simple: after giving so much to the country and waiting 30 years for the promised reward, he wants only a safe place to call home whenever he returns to Nigeria.
Credit: Vanguard
