FG Bows to Pressures, Rescinds Ban on International Basketball
Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja
The Federal Government succumbed to pressures from concerned stakeholders after it lifted the two-year international ban on Nigeria basketball.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, addressed the media yesterday on the shifting of position.
The development will now pave the way for reinstatement of Nigeria to the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup in Australia from September 22- October 1, 2022after the ticket had been withdrawn and given to Mali.
Abubakar admitted that the ministry reconsidered its position after the factional President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) board, Ahmadu Musa Kida wrote a letter of appeal dated June 17, 2022, addressed to the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare.
Abubakar said the arbitration by concerned stakeholders, former Nigerian international basketball players and well meaning Nigerians for solutions to the imbroglio triggered the decision.
He said in the letter of appeal, Musa Kida among other things apologised to Mr President and the Minister over the 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 of basketball among other things. Above all, the compliance of NBBF to the issues at stake made this possible,” Abubakar noted.
He said upon review of the prevailing situation, the Ministry approached President Buhari to update him of the latest development.
He added that a number of significant developments have occurred since the Presidential approval withdrawing Nigeria from international basketball competition for two years.
“President Buhari, being one that is committed to youth development and desirous of ensuring that they are availed all opportunities in sports and other endeavours, considered the appeal and in the overriding spirit of national interest, love for youth and in order to avoid sending basketball into a long period of suspension when NBBF has now committed to resolution of the issues which precipitated the withdrawal in the first place has approved the return of Nigeria to international basketball immediately”.
He said sports federations hold such positions in trust for the government and people of Nigeria under the direct supervision of the Minister of Youth and Sports, adding must respect Nigerian laws and authority governing various sectors failure of which he said will attract sanctions. He noted the laws of Nigeria cannot be subjugated to any other law.
