Nigerian Basketball In The Eye Of The Storm: "We Will Respect, Abide By FIBA’s Decision on Tenure"

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The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Dr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, has reaffirmed that the Federation will fully respect and abide by the decision of the sport’s global governing body, FIBA, regarding the tenure of the current NBBF Board.

Speaking recently in Lagos after an extensive media briefing on the Federation’s 2026 activities calendar, Kida addressed growing public discourse surrounding the board’s mandate.

“Of late, Nigerian basketball has been in the eye of the storm, with some arguing about when the mandate of the present board will end. All that has collapsed into a single file,” he stated.

He explained that the matter is fundamentally constitutional and has been the subject of sustained engagements with the National Sports Commission and other critical stakeholders in Nigerian sports administration.

“We are talking about a matter of constitutionality. At the end of that definition, it will be subsumed by the governing body of basketball in the world, FIBA. As you are all aware, some stakeholders have petitioned FIBA, and we as a federation affiliated to the global body can only wait for their verdict.

“FIBA has its calendar. Their time is not our time, so we have to be patient. What I can assure you is that whatever decision they come up with, we will respect it and abide by it.”

While addressing governance concerns, Kida emphasized that the Board remains focused on advancing the sport structurally and competitively across the country.

He highlighted the successful conclusion of the Nigeria Men’s Premier Basketball League, which recorded one of the highest match volumes in recent years and culminated in a well-organized final phase in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The NBBF President noted that the Federation is committed to ensuring that domestic leagues are played regularly to provide players with consistent exposure and opportunities for national team consideration.

“We want to give our local players the platform to showcase their talents and potentially make it to the national teams. The goal is to have a sustainable league that can attract sponsors and provide a career path for our youth.”

Kida also spoke extensively on the evolution of the women’s basketball structure, which now operates a more robust multi-tier system under the long-standing partnership with Zenith Bank.

The women’s league now features:

Zenith Bank Women’s Premier League, comprising the top 16 teams in the country.

Zenith Bank Women’s Division One, a newly established second tier serving as a developmental pathway for emerging teams.

According to Kida, this restructuring has narrowed the gap between traditional powerhouse teams and emerging sides, a development he described as clear evidence that basketball is thriving at the grassroots level nationwide.

He further acknowledged Zenith Bank’s nearly two-decade commitment—approximately 18 to 19 years—to women’s basketball in Nigeria, crediting the consistency of that partnership for the rise and continental dominance of the senior women’s national team, D’Tigress.

In addition, Kida, who was flanked by some members of the NBBF Board during the press briefing, revealed that the Federation has approved a new wave of sponsorship agreements, including kit partnerships and expressions of interest around both men’s and women’s national teams, with formal unveilings expected in the coming months. He also recognized the steady support of TotalEnergies for Divisions One and Two over the past several years.