Despite coming under attack in recent weeks, over Nigeria's withdrawal from participating in international basketball, the minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare has described the industry as one big family.

The minister was on Monday presented bags of rice by the Sports Writer Association of Nigeria (SWAN) FCT chapter, as part of their Easter and Eid-El-Fitr gifts which were also extended to members.

FCT SWAN Chairman, Bunmi Haruna, who was in the company of some members said they see the minister as part of the SWAN family and will continue to support him to succeed in office.

"We don't have much, but from the little we have as an association, we have come to share with you.

"We know you don't lack such things, but we see you as part of us and whatever we have we share,” Haruna said.

"We appreciate your huge strides in the sports industry in the last three years and want to let you know we will continue to support you to achieve even more."

The minister, while responding, described the gesture as the first of its kind.

"This has never happened before and I'm going to tell my wife when I get home.

"This shows we are one big family, I thank SWAN for this gesture."

The minister also spoke on the withdrawal of Nigerian teams from participating in international basketball for two years.

"The true basketball stakeholders know that the ministry is not the problem, they know where the problem Is," Dare said.

The SWAN, FCT chapter had last month shared close to 100 bags of rice to members as Easter and Sallah packages.