Basketball

North East Zone Not Interested In Ministry Of Sports Activities – Abba Kaka

Published

3 years ago

May 26, 2022

The North East Basketball Association has expressed its support for the NBBF stand and statement issued on May 25, 2022, calling on all basketball stakeholders and players to boycott all Federal Ministry of Youth And Sports organized basketball jamborees called games or tournaments or any similar activities due to pulling the game out of international tournaments by the Ministry.

” It is obvious to us all that the Ministry of Sports and the Minister are being remotely controlled by enemies of the game. Otherwise, how do you explain the fact that the ministry can make a U-turn to its own press statement of September 30, 2021?
“Were they clearly stated that there is only one NBBF Constitution of 2019, vetted and approved by both the ministry, NOC, and FIBA. That the NBBF should proceed with the election and any other issues of the amendment should be done in line with the Constitution and after the Election.

“It simply does not make sense other than greed and selfishness over national interest. How can you pull out the only game that brought fame and glory to Nigeria in the last 4 years? Both Men and Women’s national teams qualified for the World Cup at the same time, a first on record for Nigeria.

“We categorically condemn this in the strongest terms. This ill-informed and not well thought out decision by the Minister. We are calling on all players and stakeholders to be calm and patient as we are working hard to make sure that decision is reversed immediately.

“To our ladies who have already qualified for the World Cup, we say, your efforts will not be in vain. Most states in Nigeria have already said they will not participate in the ministry activities and the North East cannot be left behind. That is why the Ministry is putting pressure on the zonal offices to draft and register any team or player who wants to play in the jamboree.

“When we came on board 4 years ago, basketball was at ground zero. We worked hard to turn around the game. For example, Borno State featured and qualified for the first time in the national championship in the past 16 Years. Both Taraba and Adamawa (both Men and Women Teams), qualified twice both at Division 2 and Zenith league played in Abuja and Lagos. While Yobe consistently maintained their division one spot and came 3rd at the National Championship in Lagos.
” How can any Minister Say there is no grassroots games in Nigeria.? Or Sponsors? Sunday Dare, forgot that both Zenith Bank and Total Energies are big corporate sponsors of the game.

In fact, the Minister was at Eko Le Meridien Hotel where he himself unveil the Total Division 2 N150m sponsorship deal for 5 years. All the Above happened when Tijjani Umar, who was the ex-NBBF president finished his 8-year disastrous tenure and collected $2.2 Million dollars from the Econet of South Africa for a domestic kwese league. Money that was not deposited in the NBBF account nor returned to the sponsor.

“For us in the North-East zone, such a betrayal from someone in the same zone can never be forgotten or forgiven as our youth were left in distress and at the mercy of Boko Haram to recruit them. The same hard work and dedication by the NBBF under the leadership of Eng. Ahmadu Musa Kida led both the men’s and women’s national teams to become the best in Africa and qualified for the World Cup at the same time (the first time Record for Nigeria) and the Olympics.

“The women won back to back to back(3 times another record) for Nigeria. Our record and that of the President of NBBF speaks volume. Who had to advance his own money when government money was not available to succeed. ( Only half of his money was Refunded to date.) We stand with the NBBF and the President Eng. Kida and Constitution and Statutes of the FIBA.

“We are calling on the President Muhammadu Buhari, who is a lover of sports to remove this minister without any delay as he is out to rubbish his achievements in sports and tanish the image of Nigiria as we are already a laughing stoke in the world of Sports by this stupid decision to pull out Nigeria for 2 years from international Basketball,” Abba Kaka, the North East Zonal Representative on the NBBF board stated.

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Basketball

RMAFC Reaffirms Commitment To Boost Revenue Generation From Mining Sector

Published

3 weeks ago

October 16, 2025

The Gleamer

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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