The Nigeria Customs Service has finally released the seized basketball kits and equipment meant for the country’s men’s and women’s basketball teams at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Recall the kit was impounded at the seaport in Apapa, Lagos for over three months, with the Nigeria Basketball Federation reportedly asked by the NCS to pay N35m to clear the goods.
On Thursday, July 15, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, was able to secure the release of the kits ahead of the global sport’s showpiece starting in eight days’ time.
According to a message from the media office of the sports minister signed by John Joshua Akanji, Dare secured the release of the goods through the help of the finance ministry and the NCS.
“As promised, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare’s intervention has secured the release of basketball kits of the Nigerian Basketball Federation from Apapa Warf,” the statement reads.
“The Caretaker Chairman of the Nigerian Basketball Federation, Musa Ahmadu-Kida, confirmed the release of the items late Thursday.
“The minister expressed appreciation to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the Comptroller-General of Nigerian Customs Service, Hameed Ali, for making the release of the kits possible.”
