FIBA okays Kida’s NBBF Board tenure until October 15

Pius Ayinor

The world basketball governing body, FIBA, has given the current Board of the Nigeria Basketball Federation approval to remain in office until October 15, 2026.

The FIBA letter dated March 16, 2026, reads, “Over recent weeks, FIBA has received extensive correspondence from various stakeholders regarding the governance of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) and the timing of its upcoming elections. As you are well aware, since 2017, FIBA has closely monitored NBBF governance issues, which tend to become very contentious during the electoral year. Four years ago, these issues led to the withdrawal of your women’s national team from the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup and obliged FIBA to impose a disciplinary sanction on NBBF. It took FIBA’s intervention for the eventual normalization of the situation in October 2022.

“Having considered the documentation on the file as well as previous experience, this letter outlines FIBA’s position on the matter:

(A). FIBA recognizes the current NBBF Board’s mandate until 15^th October, 2026.

(B). Elections for NBBF governing bodies must take place after the conclusion of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup (13^th September 2026) and by no later than 15th October 2026. The newly elected NBBF Board shall start its mandate on 16^th October, 2026.

C). FIBA will not recognise any amendment to the NBBF statutes before the electoral process is concluded. Therefore, the upcoming elections must be conducted under the current statutory framework and in compliance with the current FIBA general statutes and internal regulations.”

The October schedule by FIBA aligns with what the Musa Kida-led Exco had insisted on as the right time to vacate office, just as a group led by Col Sam Ahmedu (retd) had argued that the right date should be January 2026, which was exactly four years from the date they were elected.

Former sports minister Sunday Dare’s refusal to recognize and approve the NBBF’s electoral held in January 2022 in Benin City created a standoff. The Federal Government eventually accepted and inaugurated the NBBF Board in October 2022.