The Dutchman, who guided Nigeria to its historic 1994 Africa Cup of Nations triumph and the country’s first-ever FIFA World Cup appearance, said the house allocated to his family in Gwagwalada, near Kuje in the Federal Capital Territory, has remained uninhabitable because of the security situation in the area.
In an open letter addressed to President Tinubu and the Nigerian public, Westerhof explained that he had been strongly advised against living in or even visiting the property because of the reported risks of kidnapping and general insecurity around the location.
According to the former coach, his request is not motivated by a desire for privilege or luxury, but by a wish to safely enjoy an honour bestowed on him by the Nigerian government.
“We are not asking for luxury or special treatment. We are simply asking that the honour already given to us can be enjoyed safely,” Westerhof said.
He appealed to the Federal Government to consider moving the allocation to a safer district within Abuja, stressing that such a decision would allow him and his family to take possession of the property without putting their lives at risk.
The housing allocation formed part of the Federal Government’s pledge to members and officials of the celebrated 1994 Super Eagles squad, following the team’s historic achievements under Westerhof. His own allocation was formally completed in 2019 under the previous administration.
However, the former national team manager said worsening security concerns in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory have made it impossible for him to make meaningful use of the property.
Westerhof, now in his eighties, said he had spent the past year trying to resolve the matter through official channels. His efforts included a meeting in Abuja with the former Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, as well as a subsequent written petition to the current minister, Engineer Muttaqha Rabe Darma.
In his petition, Westerhof reportedly requested that the allocation be reassigned to a safer part of the nation’s capital. Despite his efforts, he said no official resolution has been communicated to him.
With the administrative route yielding no solution, the veteran coach has now taken his appeal directly to President Tinubu, asking for presidential intervention and a possible swap of the property for an alternative location.
Beyond the housing dispute, Westerhof used the opportunity to reaffirm his enduring affection for Nigeria, a country where he spent some of the most defining years of his coaching career.
He described his time with the Super Eagles between 1989 and 1994 as one of the greatest blessings of his life, highlighting the strong bond he developed with the country and its people.
Westerhof’s appeal therefore centres not on seeking a new reward, but on ensuring that an existing national honour can be accessed in circumstances he considers safe and secure.