A member of FIBA Africa, Colonel Sam Ahmedu (rtd), has shed light on why the National Sports Commission (NSC) appears restrained in addressing the tenure elongation crisis rocking the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).

 

Speaking in Abuja, Ahmedu explained that the NSC’s position is influenced by prior resolutions reached at a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened on January 9, 2026, by the Director-General of the Commission. The meeting, he disclosed, was attended by key members of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) and other relevant stakeholders.

 

According to him, deliberations at the meeting led to a unanimous agreement that the tenure of the current NBBF Board would officially end on January 31, 2026.

 

However, a transitional window extending to March 31, 2026, was approved to allow for a smooth constitutional process. He stated that the temporary extension was designed to address specific administrative and competitive concerns.

 

The transitional arrangement, Ahmedu explained, was to:

• Facilitate statutory notice requirements — 14 days for Board meetings and 21 days for Congress.

• Ensure continuity and stability for the Women’s National Team ahead of the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers scheduled to take place in France from March 14 to 18, 2026.

 

“Despite this resolution, no valid Congress or constitutional transition process was initiated,” Ahmedu lamented.

 

He further revealed that members of Congress had formally petitioned the international basketball governing body, FIBA, seeking guidance on how to safeguard constitutional order within the NBBF framework. The petition, he said, also requested that the NSC and the NOC be allowed to superintend over the transition process to prevent any allegations of external interference in the Federation’s affairs.

 

“A response from FIBA is currently being awaited,” he said.

 

Ahmedu described the NSC’s role in the matter as “fatherly,” noting that the Commission is exercising caution while awaiting FIBA’s directive, which he said is expected at any moment.

 

The ongoing crisis has seen some Board members declare that their tenure has expired and that all positions are vacant, further deepening uncertainty within Nigerian basketball administration. Stakeholders now await FIBA’s intervention, which is expected to determine the next course of action and potentially restore constitutional order within the Federation.