JUST IN: Ogun State Athletes Protest Unpaid Allowances, Disrupt National Sports Festival

Athletes representing Ogun State at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF) have staged a protest over unpaid allowances, obstructing the main entrance to the Games Village at Babcock University.

The demonstration, which commenced early Wednesday morning, left numerous athletes from other states stranded, especially those scheduled for morning events. Many were unable to leave the Games Village in time to reach their competition venues, causing major disruptions to the festival’s logistics.

Eyewitnesses described the scene as tense yet orderly, with the protesting athletes calling for swift intervention from the Ogun State Government.

They accused officials of reneging on financial commitments made to the team before the commencement of the Gateway Games 2024.

One of the affected athletes said the grievances had been building for several days.

“Yesterday, Team Ogun officials called for an emergency meeting in front of the Queen Esther Hostel, where many of us are lodged. Another meeting was also held this morning around 5 a.m., but no resolution was reached. That’s when things escalated,” the athlete said.

Ogun State is the host of this year’s National Sports Festival and the incident has raised questions about the host state’s preparedness and commitment to the welfare of its athletes.

With competition schedules disrupted and frustration mounting among participants, there are growing calls for top government officials in the state to step in and resolve the crisis swiftly to prevent further escalation.