Buhari withdraws Nigeria from all basketball competitions
President Muhammadu Buhari has given approval to the immediate withdrawal of Nigeria from all international basketball competitions for a period of two years.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, made this revelation in his office in Abuja, the country’s capital, on Thursday.
This was due to the continued crisis the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) had witnessed and that has nearly paralyzed basketball development in the country.
The minister, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, explained that the decision of the government was to ensure that the body and its games were adequately revamped from the grassroots as well as revive the disappearing domestic leagues .
“Government intends to utilize this period of break to address 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 called all concerned stakeholders of the sport to remain reliably calm as the decision is for the good of the game of basketball in the country.
