| Competition: | Nigeria Premier League |
| Season: | 2011–12 |
| Winners: | Kano Pillars F.C. |
| Relegated: | Niger Tornadoes, Jigawa Golden Stars, Rising Stars F.C. |
| Disqualified: | Ocean Boys F.C. |
| Continentalcup1: | Champions League |
| Continentalcup1 Qualifiers: | Kano Pillars F.C. Enugu Rangers |
| Continentalcup2: | Confederation Cup |
| Continentalcup2 Qualifiers: | Lobi Stars Heartland F.C. (cup winner) |
| Matches: | 342 |
| Total Goals: | 687 |
| League Topscorer: | Sibi Gwar (Niger Tornadoes) - 13 |
| Biggest Home Win: | Gombe United 5 Sharks F.C. 0 (1 Feb.) Rangers 5 Jigawa Golden Stars 0 (2 May) |
| Prevseason: | 2010–11 |
| Nextseason: | 2013 |
The 2012 Nigeria Premier League is the 41st season of the competition since its inception, and the 22nd since the rebranding of the league as the "Professional League".
Sixteen teams from the previous season and four teams promoted from the Nigeria National League (Akwa United, Rising Stars, Jigawa Golden Stars and Wikki Tourists) are participating in this season.
The season was originally due to start November 26, 2011, less than a month after the conclusion of the previous season due to many long delays by the NFF.[1] The date was pushed back to January 2012 to give time to organize and to sort out the league's sponsorship and scheduled to run to July.[2]
| Team name | Home city | Home venue | First year of current stint in League | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABS | Ilorin | Kwara State Stadium | 2010 | |
| Akwa United | Uyo | Uyo Township Stadium/UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar | 2011 | |
| Dolphins | Port Harcourt | Liberation Stadium | 2009 | |
| Enugu | Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium | 1973 | ||
| Enyimba | Aba | Enyimba International Stadium | 1994 | |
| Gombe | Pantami Stadium | 1994 | ||
| Owerri | Dan Anyiam Stadium | 1975 | ||
| Jigawa Golden Stars | Dutse | Hadejia Stadium | 2011 | |
| Kaduna | Kaduna Township Stadium | 2008 | ||
| Kano Pillars | Kano | Sani Abacha Stadium/Hadejia Stadium | 2001 | |
| Ilorin | Kwara State Stadium | 2009 | ||
| Makurdi | Emmanuel Atongo Stadium, Katsina-Ala/Aper Aku Stadium/Old Parade Ground | 1999 | ||
| Minna | Minna Township Stadium | 2003 | ||
| Brass | Samson Siasia Stadium | 2006 | ||
| Rising Stars | Akure | Gateway Stadium (Ijebu Ode)/Akure Township Stadium | 2011 | |
| Sharks | Port Harcourt | Sharks Stadium | 2008 | |
| Ibadan | Awolowo Stadium/MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta | 2009 | ||
| Sunshine Stars | Akure | Akure Township Stadium | 2007 | |
| Warri | Warri Township Stadium | 2008 | ||
| Wikki Tourists | Bauchi | Abubarkar Tafawa Balewa Stadium | 2011 |
From MTNFootball[6]
Reserves GK: Moses Ocheje (Sunshine Stars) D: ThankGod Ike (Warri Wolves) D/M:Chinedu Efugh (Heartland) M: David Tyavkase (Lobi Stars)M: Abduljaleel Ajagun (Dolphin) F: Dele Olorundare (Sunshine Stars) F: Chikeluba Ofoedu (Rangers)
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Incoming manager | Date of appointment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Enyimba | Felix Emordi | Resigned | End of 2010-11 Season | Abdu Maikaba[7] | Nov. 26 2011 | |
| Shooting Stars | Fatai Amoo | Resigned[8] | End of 2010-11 Season | Festus Allen[9] | Dec. 30 2011 | |
| Enugu Rangers | Alphonsus Dike | Resigned[10] | End of 2010-11 Season | Felix Emordi | Dec. 23 2011 | |
| Wikki Tourists | Hassan Abubukar | Contract not renewed | End of 2010-11 Season | Ladan Bosso | Dec. 23 2011[11] | |
| Warri Wolves | Paul Aigbogun | Family reasons[12] | Feb. 20, 2012 | Maurice Cooreman | Feb. 20 2012 | |
| Kaduna United | Maurice Cooreman | Resigned | Feb. 20, 2012 | Saleh Tanko Lato | ||
| ABS | Erasmus Onuh | Sacked[13] | Feb. 27, 2012 | Kabiru Suleiman Dogo (interim) | Feb. 27, 2012 | |
| Shooting Stars | Festus Allen | Sacked | Mar. 26, 2012 | Tunde Odubola/Busari Akeem[14] | Mar. 26, 2012 |