By Osasu Obayiuwana BBC Sport, Bolton

If they fail to obey the instructions of Fifa, the international careers of so many young players in Nigeria will be destroyed Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha

Nigeria captain Jay-Jay Okocha has advised his country's sports administrators to comply with Fifa instructions and complete the reform of their football statutes.

"If they fail to obey the instructions of Fifa, the international careers of so many young players in Nigeria will be destroyed," Okocha told BBC Sport at the ground of his English Premiership club Bolton Wanderers.

Fifa had given Nigeria until the end of last year to complete the reform of its statutes or be excluded from international football.

Although the West African country was given a reprieve to complete the reforms at the earliest possible time in the new year, a bill abrogating the previous law governing the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) is yet to be passed by the National Assembly, the country's legislative body.

"[The situation] is a source of big worry, because it appears that after all these years, we are not moving forward," Okocha complained.

"It is unfortunate that the people who are running football in Nigeria do not have any knowledge about the game.

"As far as we keep on appointing people that know nothing about football to run it, we will continue to have these type of problems," Okocha warned.

I will keep on speaking my mind and hopefully one day things will change because I am only saying them for our own good

The midfielder said he is fed up with the endless problems in the management of the Nigeria FA and expressed his unhappiness that his views on the national team are ignored.

"I have been talking a lot [about the problems of Nigerian football] but what more can I do?" he asked in frustration.

"Our mentality is that when you voice your opinion about the way football is run, some people will think that you know too much and you might be kicked out [of the national team].

"But I will keep on speaking my mind and hopefully one day things will change because I am only saying them for our own good.

"At the moment, we do not even have a secretary-general [for the NFA] and work is not being done properly."

Backing Nigeria manager Christian Chukwu, who has been the subject of fierce criticism from the local media, Okocha said he should be allowed to manage the national team without further distraction.

"The issue is not whether we have a foreign or local coach, the problems of Nigerian football are tied to what is going on in the office [of the Nigeria FA].

"He does not deserve to be put under unfair pressure."

Nigeria currently top Group Four of World Cup qualifying, ahead of Angola.