The federal government of Nigeria has rescinded its decision banning the nation for two years from all international basketball competitions following the factional crises bedevilling the basketball federation.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on May 12, ban the nation to condone the excesses of the factional leadership melee that has crippled the sport in the country.
In a statement released on Thursday by the sports ministry, it noted that interventions by stakeholders and an appeal letter from Musa Kida on behalf of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) necessitated the revocation.
According to the ministry, Kida apologised for all the embarrassment the federation’s imbroglio may have caused the nation in the letter dated June 17, 2022, appealing to the President to rescind his decision.
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The statement read in part: “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(NBBF), the decision of the Federal Government to withdraw from international basketball for two years has been rescinded.
However, the sports ministry confirmed that the President’s change of decision was further necessitated by the assurance given by the federation to “set in motion the process of the NBBF Statutes review, and the reconciliation of all contending and aggrieved parties both home and abroad as well as committing to work in tandem with the Ministry”.
Nevertheless, the ministry also stated that Buhari considered the love of Nigerians for sports in the spirit of national interest.
