FG withdraws Basketball from International Competitons
President Muhammadu Buhari has on Thursday approved the immediate withdrawal of Nigeria from all International Basketball Competitions for a period of two years.
The development which was contained in a statement released by Mohammed Manga, Director, Press and Public Relations of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, the withdrawal was expedient following the unending crises that have plagued and nearly crippled Basketball development in the country.
The Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare who made the statement in his Office in Abuja, disclosed that the withdrawal of Nigeria was to provide Government with the opportunity to revamp the sport from the grassroots as well as revive the domestic leagues which have become moribund.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, the Minister stated that the withdrawal will also allow for the setting up of an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee the management and development of the domestic Basketball Leagues in Nigeria and to further address other related issues around the advancement of the game in the country.
“Government intends to utilize this period of break to address all contentious issues among stakeholders. The Terms of Reference (TOR) and membership of the Interim Management Committee will be announced in due course”, he said.
In issuing the Presidential order, the Minister reiterated government’s interest and commitment to the development of the sport of Basketball in Nigeria as well as huge talents of our youth domestically in an atmosphere that is free of rancour and squabbles.
He called on players, officials, fans, and other stakeholders of the sport to remain calm as government embarks on far-reaching initiatives to reposition, sustain and stabilize the game of Basketball for growth and success in the long term interest of the country.
Despite some honours that the game has brought to the Country both in the continent and international scenes lately, the leadership of basketball game in the country ; Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has for past Five years been embroiled in crisis.
Lately, two separate Elections by different factions held in a bid to usher in new leadership for the NBBF.
While one of the elections which held in Benin and witnessed by a delegate of Africa Basketball leadership produced the Musa Kida-led board, another election which held in Abuja produced Mark Igoche led board.
Earlier before the 2022 Election, there had been a leadership tussle between Musa Kida and Tijani Umar on who should hold ace in the affairs of Basketball in the country after they were both elected in separate elections.
