The intervention by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has secured the release of Team Nigeria’s Tokyo Olympics basketball kits from the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The kits, donated by sportswear maker Peak for D’Tigers’ Olympics participation, were in the custody of Nigeria’s customs service at the Apapa seaport in Lagos for several days over duties. The Nigeria Basketball Federation sought a waiver on the N35 million duties as the kits were for national use, but customs held on to them.
However, following the intervention of the Sports Minister the kits have been released. Dare had promised that he would secure the release of the kits and met with the finance ministry to get the waiver.
The Caretaker Chairman of the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF), Musa Kida, confirmed the release of the items late Thursday.
Minister Dare expressed appreciation to Minister and Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the Comptroller General of Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali for making the release of the kits possible.
D’Tigers and D’Tigress are Africa’s only representatives in the men’s and women’s basketball events of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, which begin officially on July 23.
D’Tigers, who recently stunned the world with pre-Olympic exhibition victories over United States of America and Argentina, are in a tough group in Tokyo. They will face Australia, Spain and Germany in the group phase.
African champions D’Tigress will play France, Japan and USA.
