By Osasu Obayiuwana BBC Sport

Sports minister Musa Mohammed has been informed of Fifa's threat

World football governing body Fifa has declared its readiness to impose a stiff punishment on Nigeria should the country fail to reform its football statutes.

Former Nigeria Football Association (NFA) secretary-general Patrick Okpomo, now a Caf and Fifa instructor, told BBC Sport that he received the warning from Fifa deputy general secretary Jerome Champagne during a visit to Zurich.

Nigerian football has been governed by Decree 101, a statute that has been in force since 1992.

Critics of the current law have argued that it has been responsible for the instability in Nigerian football administration.

Fifa have said that every member of the FA must be elected Fifa instructor Patrick Okpomo

It allows Nigeria's government to nominate the NFA secretary-general and nominate four members to its board.

Okpomo told BBC Sport from Lagos that Champagne made it clear that the decree violates Fifa regulations which protect national associations from governmental interference.

"[Champagne] asked me if I was aware that Fifa was not happy with Decree 101.

"They are not pleased with the section that gives the minister powers to instruct the NFA at any time and the section which talks about its composition.

"Fifa have said that every member of the FA must be elected and not nominated.

"He told me that they have sent a letter to the NFA, asking for their official position on this decree, and they are yet to receive a response.

"He said that if Fifa waits for a while longer and does not receive any reaction, the body will give the NFA a deadline.

"If they fail to react by that deadline, [tough] action would be taken," Okpomo said.

The former NFA secretary-general said he tried to make contact with Taiwo Ogunjobi, the incumbent secretary-general, since his return from Switzerland but was yet to get a response.

"When I came back [to Nigeria] I called the secretary-general of the NFA.

"He was not around and I asked that he get in touch with me but I am yet to hear from him.

"However, I believe the minister [of sports Musa Mohammed] has got word, through his officials, of Fifa's position.

"I advised that immediate action must be taken to address the discrepancies."