FG unbans basketball, urges Kida to embrace other stakeholders
TAbubakar, yesterday, cited “intervention by concerned HE Federal Government, stakeholders, former yesterday, reversed its Nigerian international basdecision to withdra w ketball players and wellNigerian teams from int ermeaning Nigerians to seek national competitions for for solutions to the issues two years. But this is coming that triggered the decision,” after Nigeria’s women as some of the significant national team, D’tigress, events that led to governwhich had earlier qualified ment’s decision to change for the 2022 FIBA W omen its stance on the issues. World Cup billed to hold in The statement also disAustralia, had been replaced closed that the Ministry of with Mali by FIBA. Sports held a video confer
The Federal Government ence meeting with the top had on May 12, 2022, withhierarchy of FIBA, adding drawn Nigerian men and that the parley “produced women teams, including common understanding in youth sides, from internacertain general areas, contional competitions, saying cluding with a commitment it will use the period to reorby both FIBA and Nigeria to ganise the sport in the counexplore and collaborate on try and also lay a grassroots enhancing relationships, development pathway . development of basketball
It als o named an interim and reaffirming mutual management committee, respect for the laws and headed by Dr . Henr y Constitution of Nigeria as a Nzekwu, to oversee the sport sovereign state, and also during the period. FIBA.”
But a statement signed by It added that the leadership Permanent Secretary at the of the Nigeria Basketball Ministry of Youth and Sports Federation ( NBBF), led by Development, Alhaji Ismaila Musa Kida, on June 17 wrote a letter of appeal to Sports Minister, Sunday Dare, where they apologised to President Muhamadu Buhari and the minister for “embarrassment the developments around basketball and the conduct of some stakeholders has brought upon Nigeria.
“The letter appealed to the minister to use his good offices to approach President Buhari for the reversal of the two- year withdrawal of Nigeria from International basketball competitions.
“The appeal letter also critically gave some key undertakings: to immediately set in motion the process of status review or constitutional amendments from stakeholders as collated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development; to set up a high powered team to reconcile all contending parties in the basketball family at home and abroad, and a commitment to work with the ministry in the governance and development of basketball, among other things.
“Above all, the compliance of NBBF to the issues at stake made this possible.”
The statement said after considering the NBBF’S appeal, Buhari agreed to rescind the decision, but warned the Federation and other sports bodies that “Nigeria cannot be subjugated to any other law, and every Nigerian entity must respect Nigerian laws and authority governing various sectors.”
He reminded people leading government organisations that they hold such positions in trust for the people of Nigeria under the direct supervision of the Minister of Youth and Sports.
The statement added that the president directed the Ministry of Youth and Sports ensure the speedy implementation of the undertakings by NBBF, which formed a major basis of his reversal.