Sports

THE NIGERIA BASKETBALL FEDERATION: FACTS AND CLARIFICATIONS BY THE FMYSD

Published

3 years ago

October 21, 2021

1.On 20 August, 2018, the former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, wrote Mr. President asking for Intervention Funding for Nigeria’s Male Basketball Team (D’Tigers) for the hosting of the FIBA African Group F World Cup qualifiers in Lagos in 2019, as well as to enable the National Men’s Basketball Team (D’Tigers) participate in four (4) programmes as qualifying tournaments for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in the sum of N1,091,996,190 (One billion, Ninety-One million, Nine Hundred and Ninety-Six thousand, One Hundred and Ninety naira only).

In May, 2019, the FMYSD wrote the Honourable Minister of Finance a reminder on the payment of the outstanding N1,091,996,190 to the Male Basketball Team.
In August, 2019, the Federal Ministry of Finance approved the release of N1billion only to FMYSD; but charged it to the 2019 Appropriation to the Servicewide Vote for International Sporting Competitions of the FMYSD, which meant that the N1b intervention was to be taken from the Ministry’s 2019 budget (no longer intervention).
The release of only N1billion greatly challenged expenditure on other sub-heads in the Votehead in the 2019 fiscal year as it was going to cut deep into Ministry’s other projects and programmes.
As a result of this, a meeting was held between FMYSD and NBBF, at the instance of the Honourable Minister. Following the meeting held with the President of the NBBF, it was resolved that N850million of the N1billion be released to the NBBF, so as not to impact negatively on the other programmes of the Ministry, while the balance was expended on other sub-head items of the Votehead of the Ministry from which budget the money was taken.
Following the decisions reached at the above referenced meeting, FMYSD released the sum of N850million to NBBF in August, 2019. By this development, there was still some outstanding to the Federation.
Having sorted out the outstanding debts to the Male Team to a large extent, on 3rd September, 2019, the Honourable Minister wrote Mr. President requesting for the outstanding allowances of the Female Basketball Team (D’ Tigress). These included the 2017 and 2019 Afro Basketball Championships as well as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics qualifiers. In the letter, FMYSD acknowledged the earlier release of N1billion for the Men’s Team and also requested for the approval of the sum of N1,626,985,496, to offset the above-stated liabilities to the Women’s Team and their Olympic qualifications. This request was informed by the 19 August, 2019 letter from NBBF detailing the liabilities due to the D’Tigress, which was to the tune of N1,675,402,600 for the Women Basketball Team’s for preparation and participation in the 2017 and 2019 Afro Basketball Championships, 2018 FIBA Women World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Recall that on 14 October, 2019, The Presidency requested the Minister of Finance to review submission made by the Ministry. This necessitated a meeting between both Ministries on 16 December, 2019 over the requested N1,626,985,496 for the Female Basketball Team. In May 2021, the Ministry of Finance released the sum of 744 millon directly to NBBF as intervention fund from the N1,626,985,496 requested for the female basket team.

NOTES:
i.The release of N850million to NBBF for the Male Basketball Team was based on the initial request by the former Minister of Youth and Sports Development Solomon Dalung on 20 August, 2018. The release of N1billion was for the Male Team and not the Female Team, as being alleged. There is no N1billion that is missing or escrowed in any account as is being peddled. A full account of the N1billion released is well documented.
ii.The release of N744million by the Federal Government directly to NBBF as part of the outstanding N1,626,985,496 for the Female Basketball Team sometime in May 2021.This release is also well documented.
iii.The release of funds and support for Youth and Sports Development
initiatives are often prioritized as funds become available by the Federal Government.

FEAD. FMYSD

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Sports

NSC DG, Olopade Visits Team Nigeria in Camp Ahead of All-African Senior Badminton Championship

Published

1 hour ago

February 5, 2025

The Gleamer

…Says NSC is determined to encourage all Sports Federations
Joel Ajayi

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, has revealed that the Commission’s leadership is determined to support and encourage all sports federations to excel.

The 2025 edition of the All-African Senior Badminton Championship is set to take place from February 10th to 16th in Douala, Cameroon. Team Nigeria, consisting of 10 players—5 males and 5 females—will compete in the Men’s Singles, Women’s Singles, Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles categories. The men’s team includes Nigeria’s number one player, Anuoluwapo Opeyori.

Olopade visited the team’s camp in Abuja on Wednesday to encourage them and bid the Nigerian Badminton Team farewell ahead of their participation in the championship. He extended a goodwill message from the NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, assuring the team of the Commission’s support and encouraging them to make the country proud.

He expressed confidence in the team, urging them to perform at their best. “My message was very clear. I conveyed the message from the chairman of the sports commission, Malam Shehu Dikko, and it was a clear one: we are determined to continue supporting all sports,” Olopade said.

“Moreover, when you look at the development and growth of Nigerian badminton, it is our responsibility, as leaders of the sports commission, to ensure that these athletes are encouraged to keep up the good work they have been doing for the country. They are the defending champions, and I’m not just here to encourage them. I have come to show our love, our support, and to ensure they are ready. They are well taken care of, and the confidence for them to excel is there. It’s all up to them to do well.”

In his remarks, the President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbi, stated that the Nigerian team is ready for the championships and that all the players understand the importance of the tournament.

“I’m confident that they will perform very well. We have a lot of potential, and the Director General’s visit to encourage the players will further boost their courage and determination. We are grateful for that.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s badminton star, Anuoluwapo Opeyori, is aiming for a consecutive title at the 2025 All-African Senior Badminton Championship in Douala, Cameroon. Opeyori won the singles event last year and is now targeting another title in Cameroon.

At the previous edition of the tournament in Cairo, Nigeria won one gold, two silver, and four bronze medals.

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