It all started like a joke, it was just not something to take seriously, no, it’s April fool in May and it’s definitely one for the banters. Whoever concocted such must have a quick mind and a splendid gift of repartee, I said to myself. I think I boarded the train and got to my destination 4 hours later and noticed this unusual traffic in all my sports whatsapp groups. It was true after all. What I thought was a joke, has now become the subject of discussion everywhere. It had started trending on social media. The news was already everywhere on the web. “Nigeria Pulls Out of Basketball World Cup”, was a shouting headline of one of the popular news media in Nigeria. What is it that I am even talking about? Readers please grab a seat and enjoy your reading time.
12th May 2022:
*FG Withdraws Nigeria from International Basketball Competitions*
The Federal Government shocked the world by announcing the withdrawal of Nigeria from all international basketball competitions for a period of two years.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, said President Muhammadu Buhari approved Nigeria’s withdrawal from the competitions.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ismaila Abubakar, the minister said a committee would be set up to oversee basketball leagues in the country.
16 May 2022:
*Mark speaks on FG’s decision on international basketball competitions*
The President of a faction of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Igoche Mark, says the two-year ban imposed on Nigeria’s participation in international basketball competitions will bring about good results.
Mr Mark, while commenting on the federal government’s withdrawal of Nigeria from international basketball competitions, said in Abuja that the decision was regrettable.
”But, as painful as it may be, I believe it will bring about some good results in fixing the problem we have on ground”.
“This is not what we were actually looking forward to from the ministry.
“But, be that as it may, if this is what it is going to take for us to put our house in order and fix the problem of Nigerian basketball, then we have nothing else to do but to embrace it,” Mr Mark said.
18 May 2022:
*FIBA writes Nigeria to clarify withdrawal*
World basketball ruling body, FIBA reacted to the letter of withdrawal written by former Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) scribe, Mrs. Olabisi Afolabi informing the governing body of Nigeria’s decision.
In a letter dated 18 May 2022 and signed by FIBA’s Head of Legal Affairs, Jaime Lamboy, the body reminded Nigeria of the consequences of having the country “take a break from all international engagements for two years and enabling an Interim Management Committee to run the affairs of basketball in Nigeria.”
While stating that Nigeria may not return to its fold until 2027 if they withdraw from international competitions for two years as being proposed by the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, FIBA added that Nigeria will also miss out of the 2024 Olympic Games as well as the 2025 World Cups for the male and female teams as well as the Afrobasket.
22 May 2022:
FG appoints Interim Committee to oversee Nigeria Basketball
Following the recent directives of President Muhammadu Buhari on the state of basketball in the country and its withdrawal from all International basketball competitions for the next two years, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development announced the members of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee the development of the sport in Nigeria.
According to a press release by the Nigerian Ministry of Youth and Sports, a caretaker committee has been set up to administer basketball in the country. It is sequel to the dissolution of the two warring factions of the hitherto Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).
