By Osasu Obayiuwana BBC Sport

Akiga said the 2010 World Cup means a lot to Nigeria

Nigerian sports minister Steven Akiga said the country's government would provide financial backing for the 2010 World Cup should Fifa accept its co-hosting proposal.

Nigeria wants to host football's most prestigious event with Cameroon, Benin Republic, Togo and Ghana.

"Of course we have received the government guarantees [regarding financial support] but remember that Fifa will not change their ways of granting hosting rights.

It is a serious idea that is not tied to personalities Steven Akiga

"Besides, there will be guarantees from the heads of government of all countries involved in this co-hosting bid," Akiga told BBC Sport during a visit to London.

Akiga was accompanied by Segun Odegbami, the chairman of Nigeria's 2010 World Cup bidding committee.

The sports minister, whose Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is seeking a new mandate in the 19 April Nigerian presidential elections, said the World Cup bid would continue regardless of its outcome.

"The World Cup bid is not a Steven Akiga affair or a Segun Odegbami affair. It is a serious idea that is not tied to personalities," he insisted.

Regarding the recruitment of what he described as a foreign 'Technical Adviser' for the Super Eagles, Akiga said the need to select the right candidate for the post has been responsible for the delay.

He said a coach, whom he refused to name, has been recommended to him and he had passed on the information to the Nigeria Football Association.

"A Nigerian has given me the name of a coach he has scouted for. He has promised to pay the foreign components, while we will take care of the local allowances.

"I have forwarded the details of the coach to the FA and if he is found suitable by them, we will go ahead with recruiting him," Akiga said.

Since the sacking of Dutch coach Jo Bonfrere in 2001, Nigeria has not hired an expatriate manager for the national team.