The Federal Government has revoked its decision to suspend Nigeria’s basketball teams from all international competitions.
Ismaila Abubakar, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Youth and Sports Development revealed this at a news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
The secretary said the latest decision is based on a letter of appeal from the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), signed by Mr Musa Kida.
“President Muhammdu Buhari, being one that is committed to youth development and desirous of ensuring that they are availed of all opportunities in sports and other endeavours considered the appeal and in the overriding spirit of national interest, love for our youth, and in order to avoid sending basket development into a long period of suspension when NBBF have now committed to the resolution of the issues which precipitated the withdrawal in the first place, has approved the return of Nigeria to international basketball immediately,” Abubakar said in a statement.
He explained that the appeal letter also provided some critical undertakings to immediately begin the process of status review or constitutional amendments from stakeholders as collated by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, to arrange a high-powered team to reconcile all parties involved with basketball at home and abroad, and commitment to work with the Ministry in the governance and development of basketball among other things.
