President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate withdrawal of Nigeria from all international basketball competitions for a period of two years with immediate effect.

Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

Dare, represented by Ismaila Abubakar, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, said a committee would be set up to oversee basketball leagues in the country.

“Following the unending crisis which have plagued and nearly crippled the development of basketball in Nigeria, President Buhari has approved the withdrawal of Nigeria from all international basketball competitions for a period of two years.

The minister added that the withdrawal of Nigeria is in order to concentrate efforts by government towards revamping the sport from the grassroots as well as domestic leagues which have become moribund.

“This 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,” he said.

naptu2:


I think they want to use the Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan strategy.


In 2008 Nigerian football authorities presented an inflated budget to the government for the hosting of the 2009 FIFA Under 17 World Cup in Nigeria. President Yar'Adua then suddenly decided that Nigeria would no longer host the tournament. This shocking decision forced the sports authorities to drastically reduce the budget. (Nigeria hosted a very good tournament)

In 2010, after a disastrous World Cup both on and off the field, President Goodluck Jonathan decided that Nigeria would not get involved in international football for two years. FIFA gave us a deadline to reverse that decision and the football authorities promised to shape up. President Jonathan changed his mind after receiving promises from the football authorities. (Nigeria went on to win the 2013 African Nations Cup).

The Basketball Federation has been embroiled in a crisis for almost 4 years. There are 2 presidents and 2 boards. All efforts by the Sports Ministry to resolve the crisis has failed. In fact, some people now accuse the Sports Ministry of being a party to the crisis. Well, the Federal Government has now announced that Nigeria will not take part in international basketball matches for the next two years and that an interim committee will be set up to manage the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF).

My main concern is that our girls are scheduled to take part in the World Cup in Australia in a few months and nothing should jeopardise their chances of competing in the tournament. I am convinced that they will have a good outing and I don't want another Rashidi Yekini - South Africa '96 situation.

superCleanworks:
can they ever do the same for football? a whole 2 years.

thank God for NBA. I am waiting for Mavs vs Phoenix. that Doncic guy is a mad genius.