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 has announced the members of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee the development of the sport in Nigeria.
The names of the IMC members
are Dr. Henry Nzekwu, Mr. Udon Ubon Humapwa, Mr. Frank Jitubhoh, Zenith Bank representative, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, Mr. Peter Nelson, Group Captain Rahinatu Garba, Aderemi Adewunmi, Oluchi Nzekwe and Sani Adio (SAN).
According to a statement signed by Mohammed Manga, the Director, Press & Press Relations at the Ministry, the Committee is to draw up programmes that will revamp basketball from the grassroots in Nigeria, revive its moribund domestic leagues and attract cooperate sponsors for the development of the game.
It was claimed that the World basketball body, FIBA recently issued Nigeria an ultimatum to suspend its international withdrawal or risk getting additional years of wilderness.
Engr. Musa Kida was said to be at the circle of events as a recipient, as the Ministry said it has received no communication to that effect.
The Government had called for Nigeria’s withdrawal as a result of in-fightings amongst stakeholders, lack of a functional league and a stall in the growth of the game at home.
It claimed that the measure will allow the country take a deep breathe, reconcile grey areas, re-strategize and get better as a basketball nation, instead of the cosmetic outward appearance of beauty but inner state of rancour and disunity.