This was after a long delay in confirming promotions from the prior year due to teams' protests.
Any team eligible to move to the National Division 1 must qualify for a Professional League license and commit to the increased spending.
After the 2007/08 season Dankalat FC of Kano won promotion, but instead sold their slot in Division 1A to Calabar Rovers.
(Dankalat would eventually sell their slot in the 2012 Professional League to Nembe City FC).
For the 2013 season, FC Ebedei and Makwada remained in the Nationwide league and sold their promotion slots after winning their divisions.