Reimbursement Controversy: NBBF Board Questions Transparency in Over ₦4bn FG Payment

Reimbursement Controversy: NBBF Board Questions Transparency in Over ₦4bn FG Payment

By BSN Sports 

The Federal Government, through the National Sports Commission, has finalized arrangements to reimburse the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) for outstanding expenses incurred on national team activities dating back to 2017, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

A senior official in the Ministry of Finance, who spoke to BSN Sports on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the payment process is in its concluding stage.

“The paperwork has been completed, and over ₦4 billion will soon be transferred to the NBBF,” the source said.

According to documents reviewed by the ministry, the funds cover expenditures made by the federation on both the men’s and women’s national basketball teams during various international competitions over the last several years.

However, the development has sparked concerns within the federation. A member of the NBBF board told BSN Sports that he was surprised to learn that the reimbursement request allegedly included years for which the federal government had previously settled outstanding payments. He also noted that neither the NBBF board nor its Congress had been informed of the expenditure claims submitted by NBBF President Musa Kida.

He further disclosed that the federation currently has no auditing firm in place and has not convened a Congress meeting for the past three years raising questions about transparency and internal oversight.

“If the president is receiving the money as a send-off package, that’s his issue,” the board member said. “He should take it and prepare for his exit, with elections coming up in January 2026.”