The Board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation has extended its gratitude to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari for rescinding the Federal Government’s decision, through the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sport, Chief Sunday Dare, to withdraw the national teams from international basketball.

In its immediate reaction, following the press conference presided over by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Alh. Ismaila Abubakar, held on Thursday in Abuja to announce the decision, the NBBF board said it was heart-warming that the best interests of the players and stakeholders have prevailed.

Speaking through its President, Engr Ahmadu Musa Kida, the board said, “After the back and forth, I am quite glad to see that this decision is reached, and it is a major victory for basketball. This is what I truly will say, no victor and no vanquished”.

“It gladdens our heart that the Federal Government has decided to return basketball to where it rightfully belongs”.

“We recognize that some of the actions of the stakeholders and their effects are regrettable. Vital lessons have been learnt and stakeholders are now committed to close ranks in the overall interest of the game”.

“There can be no viable grassroots development without international exposure. No country can be an island while every kid who takes up sports wants to play on the global stage and represent its fatherland, with the resultant huge economic benefit to the child that attains global recognition in the game”, Kida said.

Kida also emphasized that the NBBF pledged, in line with its decision at its last meeting in Lagos, to set up a high-powered and all-inclusive committee to reconcile every genuine grievance amongst stakeholders.

“At our last board meeting, we resolved to put machinery in motion to bring every genuine stakeholder to the table. We have also resolved to maintain a very high level of respect for the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Sports, as we recognize their supervisory role in line with global laws governing sports federations”.

It stated that the reconciliatory move will herald the necessary constitutional amendments recommended by the stakeholders, through the FMYSD and others, as approved by the NBBF congress- the highest governing body of basketball in Nigeria.

The NBBF President, Engr Musa Kida, thanked the Honourable Minister, the Permanent Secretary and the other Management staff of the Ministry for their support in resolving the issue.

NBBF Media Committee

Following the intervention by concerned stakeholders, former Nigerian International basketballers, well meaning Nigerians and a letter of appeal by Musa Kida on behalf of the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation(NBBF), the decision of the Federal Government to withdraw from international basketball for two years has been rescinded.

Kida’s letter of appeal dated June 17, 2022 addressed to the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare, among other things apologised to Mr President and the Minister over the embarrassment the issues around the game and the conduct of some of its actors have brought on the nation, appealing to him to use his good offices to approach President Buhari for the reversal of the self imposed ban.

The appeal letter also gave key undertakings to immediately set in motion the process of the NBBF Statures review, and the reconciliation of all contending and aggrieved parties both home and abroad as well as commiting to work in tandem with the Ministry.

Following from the above, and in the overriding spirit of national interest, love for the Nigerian youth and the development of the sport, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the return of Nigeria to international basketball immediately.

In giving this approval, it is noteworthy that the laws of Nigeria must be respected and not subjugated to any other law and all those leading government organisations and sports federations must know that they hold such positions in trust for Nigeria and under the supervision of the Minister of Youth and Sports.

D’Tigers head coach, Mike Brown and former D’Tigers player, Ime Udoka have been congratulated as the curtain came down on the 2021/2022 NBA season.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation Board through its president, Engr Musa Kida said the outcome was a win-win situation for the duo and indirectly for Nigeria.

“Mike Brown and Ime Udoka have achieved amazing feats that will be spoken about for a long time to come. We are happy for Brown who is our men’s national team coach for this outstanding success. We enjoyed the hospitality of the Golden State Warriors franchise and its facility courtesy of Brown during our preparation for the 2020 Olympics”, Musa Kida said.

Mike Brown has won his fourth NBA championship as an assistant coach and third championship with the Warriors.

Eulogizing Ime, the NBBF President said, “We are proud of him for achieving so much with Boston Celtics in such a short time. We are proud of him and what he has achieved. Although, he did not win, he surmounted adversity which is a true Nigerian spirit”.

“We know that he is capable of doing greater things in future and a beacon of hope and encouragement to other Nigerian coaches home and abroad”.

Udoka was part of D’Tigers’ bronze medal winning team at the 2005 and 2011 FIBA Africa Afrobasket championship.

The Pro- NBBF campaigners have tried endlessly, to paint the Sports ministry in bad light while also trying to gather enough support and sympathy for the NBBF Board rendered redundant by the recent decision of the Sports ministry to withdraw Nigeria from all international competitions for atleast two years.

Unlike in the past when these men would easily have accused the sports ministry of interference, this time, their hands are tied because the ministry in it’s wisdom, cleverly avoided these controversies by playing smart.

A dissolution of the board of the NBBF would have incurred the wrath of the Federation of international Basketball Association (FIBA), and would have given the opposition enough reason to condemn the sports ministry with their usual claim of government interference.

Unfortunately, the NBBF has not gotten to that point where they can pride themselves as being autonomous. That is because, the federation still depends on government fundings to execute most of it’s competitions.

Secondly, the federation cannot operate without the athletes who incidentally are citizens of this country and as citizens of this country, government reserves the right to decide if they should participate in international competitions or compete locally.

Every country wants to showcase her talents internationally. The whole essence of taking part in international sporting competitions is to create a platform for the youths of this country to have an opportunity to meet people of other countries, to make new friends and to foster peaceful co-existence among participants and competing countries.

Nigeria Basketballers have performed excellently in the last five years but in the midst of these excellence, lies an unstable leadership.

The crisis in the NBBF has exposed the many ills in the administration of the sport, there have been allegations and counter allegations of misappropriation and misapplication of funds.

Players have protested locally and internationally demanding for unpaid match bonuses. There have been instances where the image of Nigeria has been severely tarnished because some individuals failed to do their job. Or perhaps because, these players are taking advantage of the crisis to make unnecessary claims or demands.

There is also a complete neglect of the local league which is none existence. A league that was once sponsored by Zenith Bank has been abandoned because the warring factions could not put aside their personal differences for the good of the sport.

Government cannot sit back and pretend as if all is well when in truth, a lot has gone totally byserk.

As the Supreme body incharge of sports in Nigeria, the ministry tried to wade into the matter, using all available means at it’s disposal to broker peace between the Tijani Umar Led board and the Engineer Musa Kida led body.

In January this year, the nation was excitedly looking forward to the end of the crisis during the federation elections, but there was yet another shocker. Two Elections took place. One in Edo and another in the federal capital territory, Abuja.

What this means is that, two presidents have again emerged to further prolong the crisis and leave government with only one option, which is to wield the big stick.

Ordinarily, dissolving the board of the federation would have been the best option but the ministry was aware of the implication of such action so they opted for the other, which is, withdrawing the National teams from international competitions for two years.

In taking this decision, the ministry left the two federation presidents with the option of joining in the rebuilding process. No one told them to stop flaunting their egos as NBBF presidents but what the ministry did in this case, is to set up an independent body, saddled with the responsibility of organizing grassroot competitions starting with an Under-18 championship.

It is rather unfortunate that many did not see the wisdom in this decision but for the benefit of doubt, the ministry was quick to highlight the reasons behind their action as follows.

1. The need to put an end to five years of endless leadership crisis
2. The urgent need to revive the Basketball league after many years of neglect
3. The need to make the environment conducive once again for sponsors to invest in Nigeria Basketball
4. The need to give our local players a chance to grow
5. The need to create local competitions where talented basketballers can be discovered in two years.

All these are the reasons behind government’s decision which if properly looked at, became inevitable and was done in the best interest of the sport and the athletes.

The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development says it has a duty to approach the Federal Government to reconsider Nigeria’s withdrawal from international basketball, but if only there are improvements on the state of the game and unity amongst stakeholders.

Last Wednesday, the Federal Government’s decision to have Nigeria withdraw from international basketball for two years was announced, as the Ministry promised to work aucidiously to return the game to the top.

Issues ranging from leadership instability, dissatisfaction amongst players, stagnancy of the local league amongst other serious concerns led to the decision.

A source said, “We have tried in several ways to solve this crisis in the fight for administration in the interest of all parties and players but we discovered that the more we tried, the lower we sunk. There were disruptive protests, we didn’t have a league, players were suffering, something drastic needed to be done.”

In a bid to kickstart the restoration process, the Ministry said an Interim Management Committee will be set up to pilot affairs for a period.

In a related development, the Sports Ministry has rolled out plans for it to begin its grassroots development programmes with a zonal secondary championship in June, across all the geo-political zones of the country leading to a national championships in Lagos or Abuja.

The Nigeria Basketball Federation Caretaker Committee Chairman engineer Musa Kida has sent in an appreciation message to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Football Update Personality Interview panelists when he featured as guest.

Kida who transmitted the thanks you message via a WhatsApp voice note said it was a privilege. “It’s really an honour to be your guest on this platform, I don’t take it for granted. I am really always there to clarify and help put things in their proper perspectives.

According to him, other members of the FCT Football Update platform should be well appreciated too. “I think you would want to help me thank again the members of the FCT Football Update platform that I found my interaction with them very appropriate of really trying to enquire and clarify some preconceived notions.”

I feel very happy and honoured to answer their questions. I thank you very much Kida, said.

The four man panel included a lady Aderonke Bello, who is a seasoned journalist and currently serving as an SA to the Honourable Minster of State FCT, Mr. Patrick Ngwaogu, a veteran journalist turned football tactician and administrator; alongside another seasoned broadcaster, one of Abuja’s finest sports AOPs Udeme George and Promise Uwaeme a retired football referee turned CAF Referee IT Instructor and CAF trainee VAR Operator ensured that the topnotch two hour session left the Caretaker Chairman of NBBF thoroughly fascinated.

Steve Onishola’s death on 7th Jan, 2021 age 72 following a brief illness, has sparked both mourning and celebrations of an icon who was a player, coach and game official who officiated in the then African basketball championship now called Afro basket, All African Games and African clubs championship on numerous occasions spanning over 15 years.

In a day of high emotion, the basketball icon remains was taken to his home town, Aranloye Compound, – where he was interred around 10:00am – before a church ceremony of his family and close friends who had arrived Isin in large numbers after the public wake held on Thursday, 14th Jan 2021 at the Outdoor Basketball court of the Kwara state stadium.

Many in tears, wore T-shirts with picture and name of the deceased boldly emblemed on it , gathered in the streets and around Aranloye Compound, triggering an outpouring of grief, tributes and spontaneous celebration.

Chairman of the Kwara State Basketball Association, Dr Joseph Adeyemo led the tributes as he said: ” Coach Steve epitomizes basketball, he lived and breath the game till his last breathe, his death has left a huge void in the basketball community but his memories will forever lives on”. Similarly, another basketball veteran, Sule Yankee who coach and played alongside Coach steve, called him a “dear friend” who will perform a task to the letters.

President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, Engr Musa Kids in his own Submission, recognises Steve’s contribution: ” He’s an ardent basketball lover,a man of peace,humble and caring. He was a FIBA batched referee with the likes of Chris Obojememe, Jimmy Ahmed in the 80’s. Steve will be missed”. He said.

Tunde Popoola, Chairman of Nigeria Basketball Referees Association, described Coach Steve as an elder brother whose advice, commitments and support to basketball help shape him and many other Referees to top standard.

In reaction, Coach Atanda Alarape, Director of Sports, Kwara State Sports Council respected the late FIBA’s commissioner principles which reflects on his doings.

Describing his father, Babatunde Onishola said: “Dad has left us but he will never leave us because he’s eternal, he lived for the game throughout his life time and was a simple and generous human”.

Others members of the Nigeria Basketball Community who paid tributes to the late coach were Coach Wale of Oluyole Warriors, Rasheed Bello, Perpetual Clement, Elder Mike Aina, Prof Dominic, Oba Zulu, Bello Azeez, Coach Baba Jubril, Players & Officials of Kwara Falcons.

Others in the Nigeria Sport Industry are Chairman, Kwara State Weigh Lifting Association, Dr Steve Olarinoye, Coach Bola Mogaji (Member, Nigeria Squash Federation), Coach Tunde Kazeem ( Member, Nigeria Badminton Federation), Mrs Sarah Bola Esan (Member, Nigeria Women in Sport) amongst other individuals including church leaders and individuals.

Meanwhile, the grand finale of the basketball tournament in memory of Late Coach Steve tagged “1st Profilic Basketball Tournament” will be held on Sunday 17th, 2021 at the Outdoor Basketball court of the state stadium by 4:00pm where a Posthumous award will be given to honour the deceased.

The President said that as a country with huge potential in basketball, there should be a high competitive basketball league for men which will give players, coaches and officials a chance to develop their skills.

Having recently acquired a 150m naira sponsorship deal from Total Nigeria for the Divisions One and Two leagues, Kida said that organizing a robust premier league would never have been a problem without the legal encumbrances.

“They handcuffed us and slapped us and we cannot cry. We are legally stopped from having that league. The sad part of this is that the Kwese League Management Board under Olamide Oyedeji and Gombe Bulls took us to court to stop us from running a league of which people claim to have the interest of basketball at heart.”

He wondered how people who go about professing their undying love for the game could embark on such destructive plan just to prove a point politically.

Kida said claiming to love and promote basketball while stopping thousands of stakeholders from playing basketball at the highest level is hard to reconcile.

“I am still trying to reconcile how for the love of the game, you people have taken us to court as NBBF to stop clubs from playing, to stop players from earning, to stop coaches from improving themselves and stop many clubs from continental and global representation all in the name of politics. It does not add up”

In their quest to ensure that basketball players in the premier league get engaged, Kida said, “I as President decided to have a champion for Nigeria so I can propose for participation continentally without a sponsor to go ahead to organize what we called a President Cup for all the clubs that were in the premier league, give them a chance to play while we try to vacate the injunction in court.”

For him, the continued legal battle and its attendant adjournments in the last three years is nothing short of deliberate political antics targeted at wasting the board’s tenure.

“We organized President Cup, some clubs did not come but most of them participated and I personally was cited for contempt. These same people who took us to court in the first instance made a submission to the court that we were trying to circumvent the injunction by doing a President Cup”.

He is of the opinion that Nigeria should have a lot of championships which should never stop the Premier Basketball from going on.

“If they have a problem, let them take me to court, let them take NBBF to court”, Kida concluded

Reacting to a recent feedback over the absence of some players who featured at the 2019 World Cup in China, the NBBF President Engr Musa Kida explained that the exceptional quality of players ready to play for D’Tigers has made selection very difficult for the coaching crew.

“We are always determined to go all out and put our best foot forward all the time. While we were prosecuting the 2019 World Cup qualifiers, we saw different players who came and got the job done. This is a pointer to the fact that Nigeria is blessed with abundant talents.

“We have many players in the NBA and top leagues across the world who have been excused because of the timing of the qualifiers and their schedule. Some are trying to seal new contracts, others are moving in-between teams while some are waiting to be drafted which is very close when camp will open”.

He however expressed satisfaction with the quality of players on the 20 man list which he described as a mixture of youth and experience.

“All the 20 players deserve a place on the roaster and we are happy with the quality at our disposal. The coaching crew has the final decision about the last 12 players. I do not really envy them.”

Kida reiterated his belief that the Coach Mike Brown led Technical crew will deliver on the mandate given to it.

“Our immediate target right now is to win our matches and qualify for the 2021 Afrobasket while we also prepare for the Olympics in Tokyo, Japan. I believe that we are on the same page about what is expected of everybody”.

Nigeria is grouped alongside host- Rwanda, Algeria and Mali

The Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) nominated Nigeria after witnessing series of developmental programs in the West Africa country.

According to CAVB, the U18 Championship was moved to next year due to the ongoing global covid-19 pandemic and the impact it has had in the organisation of the 2020 scheduled FIVB Qualification Tournaments including the Continental 2020 Age Group Competitions.

CAVB said, “FIVB has extended the deadline for continental qualifiers for the 2021 FIVB Volleyball Age Group World Championships to 28 February 2021”.

The President of Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Engineer Musa Nimrod hailed CAVB for nominating Nigeria to host the U18 girls African Nation Cup.

He revealed that the federation will ensure the country host the best ever age grade competition.

Nimrod said, “I want to thank Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) for deeming it fit to nominate Nigeria for this Championship. One of the cardinal point of my administration is to give the younger players the opportunity to showcase their talent and I am excited the Continental body is giving us the opportunity to encourage the younger players more.

“My board will ensure we host a hitch free and set a standard that will be difficult to beat in terms of hosting the U18 girls Championship. Those who witnessed the 2019 African Beach Volleyball Championship men and women in Abuja can testify to the level of organization”

CAVB Age Group competition Schedule:

Women U20 Uganda, Kampala 4 to 13 December 2020

Girls U18 Nigeria, Abuja 29 January to 7 February 2021

Boys U19 Tunisia, Tunis 1 to 6 February 2021

Men U21 Egypt, Cairo 18 to 26 February 2021