Sports
New NBBF Player Representative Appeals for Peace, Inclusive Basketball Development
By Joel Ajayi
The newly elected Player Representative on the board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), DC Aliyu Lucky Abubakar, has been urged to promote unity among stakeholders, address concerns over marginalisation and prioritise grassroots development to advance basketball in Nigeria.
The President and Founder of Amateur Basketball Academies (ABA), who spoke in an interview shortly after the election and inauguration of the new NBBF board on Thursday in Abuja, expressed optimism that the new leadership would usher in an era of growth, inclusiveness and renewed commitment to the development of the sport.
The stakeholder acknowledged concerns raised by some participants over perceived injustice and marginalisation during the electoral process but urged unsuccessful candidates and their supporters to accept the outcome and work with the new leadership for the overall progress of Nigerian basketball.
He noted that international observers, media representatives and other participants witnessed the election, stressing the need for stakeholders to respect the federation’s constitution and established electoral procedures.
“Politics is about the game of numbers. If you are worried about this, do not just condemn the system. The system produced you,” he said, urging aggrieved candidates to put their differences aside and contribute to the growth of the game.
He further called on the newly elected officials to close ranks, reconcile opposing interests and work collectively, noting that the future of Nigerian basketball depended on cooperation rather than divisions arising from the election.
On grassroots development, Aliyu Lucky Abubakar pledged to give the area priority, describing it as central to his constituency and commitment to advancing basketball in the country.
He assured stakeholders that the new board would work to give grassroots basketball the attention it deserved, promising to demonstrate tangible progress within its first 100 days in office.
News
Cyclists, Athletes, Fitness Communities others Set for 5th Chaingang MTB Festival in Abuja
By Joel Ajayi
Cyclists, professional athletes and fitness enthusiasts are set to converge on Abuja for the 5th edition of the Abuja Chaingang Mountain Bike (MTB) Festival and 10th year anniversary of the the club scheduled for November 21–22, 2026, in the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Chairman of the MTB Festival Organising Committee, Mr Olatunji Olanrewaju, said the event would mark a significant milestone in the development of competitive cycling in Nigeria.
Organised by the Chaingang Cycling Club Abuja in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN), the festival will introduce Cross-Country Short Track (XCC) and Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) race courses, alongside the unveiling of the Sunrise Hills MTB Course in Asokoro, bordering Guzape.
The organisers said the new courses feature natural terrain, steep climbs, rocky descents, switchbacks and panoramic ridgelines designed to challenge riders and promote competitive mountain biking.
The festival, adopted as Nigeria’s national qualifier for international mountain biking competitions, will provide cyclists with opportunities to compete for qualification slots for major championships, with prize money available across race categories.
Olanrewaju disclosed that the festival had attracted several cycling teams over the years, including foreign participants in almost every edition, expressing optimism that the 2026 event would attract even greater participation.
He called on sponsors, government agencies, security institutions and multinational organisations to support the festival, noting that their participation would help strengthen Nigeria’s outdoor sports industry and enhance the country’s international sporting profile.
Also speaking, the Technical Director of the Cycling Federation of Nigeria, Bashiru Mohammed, described the festival as an important platform for developing cycling and strengthening the country’s cycling community.
Mohammed said the competition was open to cyclists and cycling groups across Nigeria and beyond, adding that the organisers would share information about the event with international partners to encourage wider participation.
He explained that the professional races would feature male and female competitors in the XCC and XCO categories, while the programme would also include activities for children.
According to him, the competition would help Nigerian cyclists prepare for next year’s championship for emerging countries, which he likened to an Olympic-style gathering of athletes from different sporting disciplines.
In his remarked, the CFN Secretary-General of the federation, Joel Akinuwa, said prize money remained an important feature of the festival, noting that participants in the previous edition received financial rewards in addition to opportunities to qualify for the African Championships and other major international competitions.
Akinuwa added that winners across the various categories in the 2026 edition would also receive prize money, providing further motivation for cyclists to compete.
Beyond the elite races, the two-day festival will feature a trail run, children’s mountain bike race, veterans’ recreational ride, city-wide fitness ride and hiking campout.
The event will also incorporate corporate social responsibility initiatives, including the Jigakushi School Restoration Project and the Road Safety Street Mural Initiative, aimed at promoting community development and road safety awareness.
The organisers said the festival would bring together professional athletes, recreational cyclists, families, young people, fitness enthusiasts, media organisations and international observers, while promoting tourism, youth development and community engagement.
They added that the long-term vision was to position Abuja and Nigeria as leading mountain biking destinations in Africa, capable of hosting international competitions and attracting athletes from across the continent and beyond.
Registration for the 2026 Abuja Chaingang MTB Festival is ongoing through the club’s website, www.chaingang.ng.
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