Basketball
Basketball Ban: The Skies Are Bright Again
By Akeem Busari
It was with untold happiness and joy that stakeholders and enthusiasts of basketball received the news of Nigeria’s return to the international basketball community, following the official announcement by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Sports, Thursday morning in Abuja.
The decision of the Federal Government through the sports ministry to unban Nigeria have equally been generating varied opinions and importantly, the views have been somewhat akin to moving from gloom to boom.
Retracing the unhealthy and induced crises that eventually led to the unfortunate ban placed by the government on international basketball would always evoke sadness in the hearts of players, officials and genuine stakeholders of the game in Nigeria and diaspora.
The ban has denied our girls who recorded a 3-peat Afrobasket title from participating in the Women’s Basketball World Cup slated for September in Australia. However, many stakeholders are willing to look beyond the unfortunate happenstances, as Nigeria’s Men’s national team can still compete against continental and global opponents for honours in forthcoming championships.
At this point we must be quick to commend the President Muhammadu Buhari and the Ministry of Sports, through the Minister of Sports, Chief Sunday Dare, for choosing to recognise the negative consequences of the ban would have on the game and of course, the millions of restive, but talented youths who are keen to eke a living from the game.
It is equally worthy to commend the embattled President of NBBF, Engr. Ahmadu Musa Kida, for his thoughtfulness, selflessness, humility and uncommon patriotism throughout the basketball turbulence. The decision to make an unveiled appeal on behalf of the NBBF board to President Muhammadu Buhari, through the Ministry of Sports, is the hallmark of a great statesman.
The promise by the NBBF to make amends to contentious parts of its constitution is expected to pave ways for further betterment of the game in Nigeria.
Without a doubt, the skies are bright again for Nigeria basketball. This is a victory for all genuinely concerned stakeholders in the future fortunes of the game in Nigeria.
Basketball
RMAFC Reaffirms Commitment To Boost Revenue Generation From Mining Sector
Joel Ajayi
In line with its commitment to bridging the gap in the remittance of revenue generated from the mining sector into the Federation Account, the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission organised a sensitization workshop on the new template for data rendition in Enugu for the South East Zone on Thursday 16th October, 2025.
Speaking at the occasion, Chairman of the Commission Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu reaffirmed the commitment of RMAFC to bridging the gap in the data remittance of revenue generated from the sector into the Federation Account.
“It has been established that despite the extent of activities going on in the Country’s mining sector, it contributes only a negligible amount to the Federation Account, largely due to the lack of proper and effective monitoring of mining activities. Hence, it is the intention of the RMAFC to work assiduously in order to ensure that all revenues due to the Federation Account from the mining sector are promptly remitted into the Federation’s distribution pool account as at when due.” He said.
The Chairman who was represented by the Federal Commissioner representing the Federal Capital Territory in the Commission, Ambassador Ayuba Jacob Ngbako stated that the new data rendition templates were designed to capture and manage relevant data with regards to specific measurement of quantity of minerals produced, producing companies and their locations, particular licenses, fees and permits paid by mining companies. According to him, if the data is properly managed and utilized, it will go a long way in ensuring that mining operations and revenues therefrom are effectively tracked and accounted for.
Dr. Shehu emphasized the imperativeness of the new data rendition template given the current economic difficulties the country is going through. He added that the perpetual over dependence on hydrocarbon sources of revenue, which is often plagued by the vagaries of the international oil market in addition to other reasons such as the problems of pipeline vandalism and oil theft underscores the determination of the President Bola Tinubu led administration to harness revenue potentials from other sectors of the country’s economy such as the solid minerals, agriculture, manufacturing and the blue economy.
In his goodwill message, the Executive Governor of Enugu State His Excellency Governor Peter Mbah, who was represented at the occasion by the Honourable Commissioner of Energy and Mineral resources of the state, Honourable Franklin Ogbonna described the new template as a significant step towards building a reliable framework for revenue monitoring and proper resource allocation framework. He added that accurate data is the foundation of sound policy formulation and effective revenue management. ” It enables both the Federal and State Governments to assess real production figures, close leakages, and ensure that due revenues are remitted for the benefit of all Nigerians.” He said.
The governor further said that the initiative aligns perfectly with the drive to reposition the solid minerals sector as a key contributor to the internally generated revenue and economic diversification agenda of the state.
In his welcome address, the Federal Commissioner representing Enugu State in the Commission, Honourable Ozo Obodougo Obumneme stated that the exercise was primarily aimed at ensuring the existence of a platform for independent data source for the Commission which will be free of summation errors and could be used for comparison as advanced information for attribution purposes.
The Commissioner for Solid Minerals in Ebonyi State, Honourable Onyia Emmanuel, Honourable Commissioner of Petroleum and Mineral Resources in Abia State, Prof Joel Ogbonna, Honourable Commissioner for Local Government in Anambra State, Honourable Tony Nwabuno and the Permanent Secratary Ministry of Industry, Mines and Minerals in Imo State, Mrs Obialor Angela all praised the initiative in their goodwill messages.
The sensitisation exercise scheduled to be held in the six geopolitical zones of the country, which commenced on the 7th of October 2025 in Abuja, was followed by the one organised in Asaba Delta State for the South – South region on the 13th of October, 2025.
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