N100 Million: Pay directly to players, Nigeria basketball team tells FG
Following donations by three commercial banks, Nigeria’s basketball team has told the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development to pay the money directly to players.
On Wednesday, the ministry announced that Zenith, Access, and GTBank donated $200,000 (about N100 million) to adopt the national men’s basketball D’Tigers and the female team D’Tigress ahead of their Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
In response to this, the female basketballers said they wanted their share of the fund paid directly to them for transparency, recalling that in 2017, N1.5 million donated by President Muhammadu Buhari entered into a “black hole.”
“Ministry should please distribute and pay into the players/officials account directly, like in 2017 when President Buhari gave D’Tigress N1 million and N500,000, respectively, before it goes into a black hole.
“Money should not be paid into any caretaker or federation account. Players, officials’ allowances, and other services are still owed since the 2018 World Cup ($73,118+),” the team tweeted.
The team added that this is not a substitute for those debts, urging the government to imitate Senegal in rewarding players with cash.
“FYI, this is not a substitute for those debts. These players and officials need to be celebrated and honoured with houses, monetary gifts, and six strategic arenas built in their honour across Nigeria. Senegal has set the bar extremely high as a small nation compared to Nigeria,” they asserted.
The basket team had initially taken to GoFundMe, an online crowdfunding platform, to seek financial assistance for its training, travel, and organisational support for the Olympics.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
World
Outcry as black British woman who reported rape in Hong Kong bags six-year jail term
The judge noted that Mr X had been “nothing but kind to the defendant,” adding that Ms Rose took advantage of his “kindness, naivety, friendship and romantic interest.”
World
Bus fares in England to be capped at £2 from January, says UK PM
Mr Burnham said the policy is necessary to ease out people’s cost of living and give them a breathing space.
Hot news Home top
N8 Billion Religious Budget: N780 million allocated for church evangelism in my Abia constituency, says deputy speaker
The lawmaker argued that nation-building must go beyond roads and physical infrastructure.
Lagos
Residents petition NHRC, seek probe of LG chairman, lawyers over demolition of Lagos estate
Mr Aponmade said that the operation was backed and sponsored by the Chairman of Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area, Abiodun Ejigbadero.
Heading 4
Makinde’s candidate Adekanmbi will win Oyo governorship poll; but he should forget presidency: Primate Ayodele
The cleric’s prophecy came amid political calculations and realignments ahead of the 2027 general election.
States
ISWAP chief photographer, other media team members killed in sustained military operations
The spokesperson said several other key fighters sustained severe injuries as they fled under intense military pressure.
