Major General Muhammadu Buhari (ret.) has approved Nigeria's immediate return to international basketball events.

This was disclosed on Thursday during a news conference in Abuja by Ismaila Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

According to him, the approval was granted in response to a letter of appeal dated June 17, 2022, signed by Musa Kida, president of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, and delivered to Sunday Dare, Minister of Youth and Sports Development.

"The letter requested to the Minister to use his good offices to approach President Buhari for the restoration of Nigeria's two-year absence from international basketball events," Abubakar stated.

"The Appeal letter also critically gave some key undertakings: to immediately begin the process of status review or constitutional amendments from stakeholders as compiled by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, to establish a high-powered team to reconcile all contending parties in the basketball family at home and abroad, and to work with the Ministry in the governance and development of basketball, among other things."

“Flowing from the above and upon a review, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development approached and placed these developments before President Muhammadu Buhari being one that is committed to youth development and desirous of ensuring that they are availed of all opportunities in sports and other endeavors considered the appeal and in the overriding spirit of national interest, love for our youth, and in order to avoid sending basket development into a long period of suspension when NBBF have now committed to the resolution of the issues which precipitated the withdrawal in the first place has approved the return of Nigeria to international basketball immediately.”

Furthermore, Abubakar said despite the approval, the stakeholders were warned to ensure that the country’s law are not subjugated to any other law.

"As with any constitutionally obliged sovereign nation, failure to do so will result in consequences." Before any group or federation that holds the Nigerian name, colors, and flag represents Nigeria, there was a country.

"Secondly, that all those who run government organizations, and in this case our federations, hold such posts in trust for the Government and people of Nigeria, directly overseen by the Minister of Youth and Sports," he stated.