NPFL Calls Peace Meeting to Defuse Remo, Ikorodu Feud

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has stepped into the escalating rivalry between Remo Stars and Ikorodu City, summoning both clubs to a high-level reconciliation meeting in Abuja. The intervention, announced on Saturday, follows a series of heated exchanges and growing acrimony between the two Southwestern neighbors. With the second half of the season looming, league officials are moving to ensure that the “geographical brotherhood” of the two clubs does not dissolve into a security risk for players and fans alike.

In a formal letter dispatched to the management of both teams, the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, expressed deep concern over the rising tension. The league has explicitly mandated that each club send two senior representatives to the talks, stipulating that these officials must hold a rank no lower than Team Manager. The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, January 13, at the league’s headquarters, is designed to settle grievances before the teams face off in the upcoming return leg.

The friction between the “Sky Blue Stars” of Ikenne and the “Oga Boys” of Ikorodu reportedly resurfaced with intensity during their most recent encounter in Lagos. While Ikorodu City recently secured a slim victory over the defending champions, the match was reportedly marred by off-field hostility and verbal spats between supporters and officials. This animosity is particularly concerning for the league given the proximity of the two clubs, which often results in a massive influx of traveling fans for their local derbies.

Adding to the significance of the upcoming fixture is the fact that Remo Stars are set to return to their spiritual home, the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, for the second stanza. The facility has undergone extensive renovations, including a new FIFA-certified pitch, and the clash against Ikorodu City is slated to be the grand reopening match. League authorities fear that if the current bad blood remains unaddressed, the homecoming celebration could be overshadowed by disciplinary issues or crowd violence.

The NPFL leadership has emphasized that while the competitive spirit of the league is encouraged, it must not come at the expense of mutual respect and safety. Owumi’s letter highlighted that the league places a premium on cordial relationships among member clubs, noting that the “acrimony” currently observed between these two teams is contrary to the spirit of the game. The Tuesday summit is expected to produce a joint commitment to peace and a warning against inflammatory statements from club officials.

For Ikorodu City, currently enjoying a strong debut run in the top flight, and Remo Stars, who are looking to climb back up the table from a disappointing 16th position, the stakes on the field are already high enough. The league’s proactive stance aims to keep the drama strictly on the pitch as the 2025/2026 season enters its business end on Wednesday, January 14. All eyes will now be on the Abuja headquarters to see if the management of both sides can find common ground before the first whistle blows in Ikenne.