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
States
Independence: NBA urges Nigerians to expect better future
The NBA said that ordinary Nigerians should be deriving benefit from the subsidy removal rather than hardship.
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
China advocates global cooperation to modernise traditional medicine
China has called for stronger international cooperation, technological innovation and equitable access to traditional medicine to address emerging global health challenges.
Economy
Nigeria records 93% rise in AI micro-credential enrolments, 113% increase in critical thinking: Report
Enrolment in AI micro-credentials in Nigeria rose by 93 per cent in 2026, while enrolment in critical thinking certification surged by 113 per cent.
Opinion
Abdul Mahmud: The president who loves us too much to campaign
A leader confident in his record should ordinarily welcome the campaign trail, where he can explain what he has achieved and answer questions about what remains unfinished.
Rights
Overcrowding in Nigeria’s prisons hinders rehabilitation of inmates
NCoS says prison congestion and inadequate funding hinder effective rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates.
Politics
Five things Nigerians like about Tinubu and why he’ll struggle to defeat Atiku, Obi
Mr Tinubu appears to have cultivated a coterie of loyalists and supporters across party lines, mentoring and raising several other politicians from within and outside his camp.
NationWide
NCoS seeks professional assessment of sexual offenders’ rehabilitationÂ
NCoS says the rehabilitation of convicted sexual offenders requires appropriate professional assessment, accountability and consideration for public safety and victims’ welfare.
