The Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), has shifted the venue for this year’s second phase of the Nigeria Basketball Premier League Atlantic Conference from Lagos to Enugu.
Reacting to the venue change, Media Manager of the South East Basketball Association (SEBA), Mr. Kennedy Onwunali commnded the decision, describing it as a step towards expanding the growth of basketball in Nigeria.
Onwunali, in a response to the petition by the President of Ebun Comets Basketball Club, Mr. A.O. Bakare, argued that the objections raised against Enugu as the host venue were based on assumptions rather than verifiable facts.
He maintained that the ability of a state to host a national basketball event should be judged by proper planning, organisation and security arrangements, rather than perceptions.
According to him, restricting major basketball competitions to only traditional locations would slow down the development of the sport in other parts of the country.
“The growth of Nigerian basketball depends on expanding opportunities beyond the usual venues. Emerging basketball communities must be allowed to gain the experience required to contribute to the development of the game,” Onwunali said.
He noted that Enugu has continued to prove its capacity to host major sporting activities, pointing to the state’s preparations to host the 2026 National Sports Festival, which is expected to attract thousands of athletes, officials, administrators and other sports stakeholders from across Nigeria.
Onwunali questioned the argument that Enugu lacks the capacity to host a basketball conference involving league teams and officials, stressing that the state has the infrastructure and sporting environment required for such an event.
“If Enugu can be trusted to host a national multi-sport event of the magnitude of the National Sports Festival, then concerns over hosting a basketball conference should not be exaggerated,” he added.
He also dismissed suggestions that the venue change may have been influenced by hidden interests, describing such claims without evidence as capable of creating unnecessary tension among stakeholders.
The SEBA media manager further stated that sponsorship, logistics and support from host communities are common practices in sports administration globally and should be viewed as contributions towards the development of the game.