The director of Planning Monitoring and Information, Peter Nelson, says the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) will not go on break again.

Mr Nelson disclosed this at the closing ceremony of the final eight basketball men’s premier league at package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadiumin Abuja.

According to him, it is the responsibility of the ministry to assist all the federations in case of crisis.

Due to the tussle of leadership between the immediate past president, Musa Kida, and the former president, Tijani Umar, the ministry will take over the sports pending when they resolve their matter.

“Any of the federation that has one or two problems that need to be resolved will be taken over by the ministry pending when we resolve the issue,” he said.

Mr Kida explained that the NBBF election would hold soon, so the sports would continue to grow.

“There is a reconciliation committee in place, and until they finish their job and the federation comes together is the way forward. There is a particular day that they will have the election as soon as they finish the two parties are coming together,” added Mr Kida. “Both parties, by the time they resolve the issues, we should be able to sit down together and fix a particular day that they can go for the congress election.”

Mr Kida noted Nigeria has a greater chance to participate in the Afrobasketball Championship with the level of the game.

“I am very delighted, and I really appreciate what the young men are doing in the field of play. These young men are really interested in the sport. They are trying to expose the skills, and they are really showcasing all that they have,” he stated. “If we go out with this type of young men, then Nigeria has a greater chance to participate in the afrobasketball.”

The Rivers Hoopers defeated Gombe Bulls 74-57 to emerge the 2021 Basketball Men premier league champion. Rivers Hoopers will represent Nigeria at the 2021 Basketball Africa League (BAL), scheduled to hold later in the year.

The 2021 Super 8 Men’s Premier Basketball League is organised by the Ministry of Youths and Sports Development due to the crisis in the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF).

The five-day competition ended on Tuesday. 

(NAN)