The President of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Engineer Ahmadu Musa Kida, has confirmed that the International Basketball Federation will make the final decision on the tenure of the current board and determine the timetable for the next elections.
The clarification follows ongoing constitutional debates and petitions from stakeholders questioning when the present leadership’s mandate officially ends. Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos after a board meeting, Kida explained that the federation had referred the matter to FIBA to ensure a neutral and binding resolution.
“FIBA is working on it, nobody really is able to tell whether it’s going to be in one week or two months,” he said. “They just need to do justice to it. Remember we had a case like this with them in 2017, we just have to be patient.”
A communique issued after the March 1, 2025 board meeting, which was attended by seven of the nine members, reaffirmed the federation’s commitment to stability and development. Kida expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his continued support for basketball and sports development in Nigeria. He also acknowledged the backing of the leadership of the National Sports Commission, particularly Chairman Shehu Dikko and Director General Bukola Olopade, for their collaboration with the federation.
The communique, signed by board members Felix Awogu and Ugo Udegue, stated that discussions also focused on Nigeria’s participation in the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers scheduled for March 11 to 17, 2026 in Lyon, France. The board pledged full support for D’Tigress, covering logistics, preparation, welfare and competitive readiness, while emphasizing the need to maintain Nigeria’s dominance in African women’s basketball and strengthen its global standing.
The federation also announced structural changes to its domestic competitions with the introduction of a Women’s Division One League. The new tier will sit below the existing Women’s Premier League, which will retain 16 elite teams. Division One will consist of 16 to 17 teams and serve as a feeder system to the top flight. Kida noted that the expansion reflects growing interest in women’s basketball and is designed to preserve quality at the top level while creating opportunities for emerging talent nationwide.
On the commercial front, the NBBF confirmed that its long running partnership with Zenith Bank will transition from annual renewals to a multi year agreement. Kida described the development as a milestone that would provide stability, reduce administrative delays and improve long term planning.
However, he admitted that attracting sponsors for the Men’s League remains challenging due to governance disputes and negative publicity surrounding the federation. He stated that potential partners are cautious about committing to an environment perceived as unstable, adding that restoring confidence is essential to concluding sponsorship negotiations.
The board also approved its 2026 budget, covering national team programs, grassroots development and international engagements, underscoring its commitment to sustaining Nigeria’s basketball growth despite the ongoing leadership questions. In addition, the federation confirmed the appointment of Pamodzi Sports Consulting to assist with sponsorship acquisition, commercial strategy and structured partnership development.
