NBBF Refutes Tenure Elongation Rumours, Reaffirms October 2022 Inauguration as Official Start
The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) has dismissed rumours suggesting that the Engr. Musa Kida-led board is attempting to extend its tenure beyond constitutional limits, clarifying that the widely circulated claim of a January 2026 expiration is inaccurate.
According to Comrade Sunday Adebayo, a stakeholder in the sporting ecosystem, the confusion stems from the parallel electoral process in January 2022 which created a leadership dispute.
The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development later reviewed the situation and formally recognised the Benin City congress outcome, with Chief Sunday Dare inaugurating the board on October 6, 2022.
Adebayo stressed that the official tenure began from the date of inauguration, not the January 2022 congress, since the board could not exercise full authority during the dispute.
He explained that between January and October 2022, Nigeria’s national teams were withdrawn from international competitions, including the disqualification of D’Tigress from the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup despite qualifying.
It would therefore be unfair to count this period of inactivity against the board’s tenure. The inauguration, attended by key stakeholders such as the President of the Nigerian Olympic Committee, marked the formal commencement of the board’s mandate.
Adebayo further emphasised that Engineer Musa Kida remains committed to the constitution of the Federation, which stipulates a maximum of two four-year terms, and has no intention of seeking a third term.
He noted that the same constitution which brought Kida into office in 2017, after the completion of Tijani Umar’s tenure, is the one he continues to uphold. There has never been any proposal or discussion within the NBBF regarding tenure elongation.
On press freedom, Adebayo clarified that legal correspondence sent to certain journalists was in response to publications deemed defamatory and inaccurate. He stressed that the right to seek legal redress is guaranteed under Nigerian law and does not amount to intimidation of the press.
The NBBF, he said, remains committed to transparency and encourages journalists to verify facts with the Federation before publication.
He urged stakeholders to focus on the achievements of Nigerian basketball under Kida’s leadership rather than divisive narratives. These include D’Tigress winning five consecutive FIBA AfroBasket titles between 2017 and 2025, and making history at the Paris 2024 Olympics by becoming the first African team to reach the quarter-finals of an Olympic basketball tournament.
D’Tigers also recorded a landmark victory against Team USA in 2021, qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, and improved their global rankings. Nigeria has since gained recognition as a basketball powerhouse in Africa and a rising force internationally, with players of Nigerian descent excelling in the NBA and European leagues.
Institutionally, the NBBF has strengthened its constitution, established reconciliation mechanisms, and expanded grassroots development programmes.
While acknowledging differing interpretations of the tenure commencement date, Adebayo called for unity and assured that elections will be conducted at the appropriate time in line with constitutional provisions and in consultation with supervisory authorities.
He urged all stakeholders to remain focused on the growth of basketball in Nigeria, warning against unnecessary controversies that could derail the progress achieved.
