Sports ministry debunks hoarding funds for Nigerian basketball teams

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has debunked rumours that it kept the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) funds meant for the Nigerian male and female basketball teams.

Ismaila Abubakar, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, in a press release made available to Tribune Online denied allegations currently making rounds in the media that its officials shared some monies donated to the male and female basketball teams ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

It could be recalled that a video clip has been in circulation on social media suggesting that the sports ministry was keeping money donated to the team.

Abubakar in the statement said, “The Ministry wishes to make the following clarifications. The $230,000 donated to the basketball teams by the banks under the ‘adopt-a-team’ programme of the ministry is intact in the Nigeria Basketball Federation’s (NBBF) official domiciliary account domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“Only the 12 female team members of D’Tigress have supplied their foreign account numbers. The Ministry waited for the account numbers of the male team to be supplied so that the processing of payments can be one-off as requested by the CBN.

“The ministry has requested the CBN to commence the processing of the payment to the female basketball players immediately. The male will be paid as soon as their account details are supplied.

“The Ministry wishes to state further that all outstanding -Olympics and Paralympics games allowances and bonuses are being processed and only slowed down by funds availability.

“Furthermore, the Ministry of Finance has been fully furnished with details of the outstanding allowances and payments due to the NBBF and the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) and efforts are being made to secure the release.”

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