TheCable

The ministry of sports and youth development has postponed the October 30 election into the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) indefinitely.

The development was announced in a statement signed by Ismaila Abubakar, permanent secretary of the ministry, on Monday.

The statement said the postponement became necessary to avert further deterioration of the federation’s leadership crisis.

The ministry disclosed that the move is also pertinent to achieve the “rancour-free development of basketball in Nigeria.”

“Having reviewed the crisis around the Nigeria Basketball Federation and in consideration of the several attempts by the supervising ministry to resolve the lingering crisis and fractionalisation in the basketball family, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development hereby directs an indefinite suspension of the NBBF Elective Congress scheduled for 30 October, 2021, in Benin City,” the statement read.

“All concerned Stakeholders are expected to take note and comply.

“This decision is necessary to avert further deterioration of the leadership crisis and towards finding a workable solution to the current disagreements within the federation. The rancour-free development of basketball in Nigeria is of utmost importance.

“The recent elections into the NBBF Board from the various constituencies (zones, NAWIS, Military/Paramilitary, NAPHER.SD etc) stand and those elected remain members-elect.”

NBBF has been in the public eye in the past weeks after D’Tigress threatened to boycott all national call-ups over unpaid allowances.