Society Gists

In a shocking turn of events that has rocked the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF), athletes representing Ogun State — the host of this year’s edition — have taken to the streets in protest, accusing the state government of total neglect and betrayal over unpaid allowances.

As early as dawn on Wednesday, the aggrieved athletes blocked the main entrance to the Games Village at Babcock University, grinding movement to a halt and leaving hundreds of other participants stranded. The protest, though largely peaceful, sent a loud and furious message: Ogun State has failed its own athletes.

The demonstration triggered widespread disruption across the festival’s schedule. With access to transport blocked, athletes from several other states missed their events, prompting logistical chaos and delays across competition venues.

“The government has abandoned us,” one furious Ogun athlete said. “We’ve been begging for our allowances for days. They keep holding fake meetings with us at odd hours — yesterday at the Queen Esther Hostel, and again this morning at 5 a.m. — but nothing came out of them. We’ve had enough.”

Ogun State, which fought to host the 2024 National Sports Festival under the banner of “Gateway Games,” now faces serious national backlash for its abysmal treatment of athletes. The protesters allege that officials made clear financial promises before the festival began — promises that have now been blatantly broken.

Interestingly, more damning is the fact that these are not isolated complaints. According to sources within the Games Village, Ogun State’s mishandling of the festival runs deep. Reports of inadequate accommodation, poor feeding, insufficient medical support, and lack of transportation have surfaced repeatedly since the Games began.

Delayed Accreditation and Poor Coordination: Many athletes arrived in Ogun to find accreditation processes in disarray, with long delays and confusion that affected team logistics.

Shoddy Accommodation: Despite promises of world-class facilities, many athletes have complained of cramped and substandard living conditions, some sharing spaces without basic amenities.

Transportation Woes: The festival’s transport system has been riddled with breakdowns, poor scheduling, and unavailability — even for official shuttles between venues.

Medical Negligence: First aid and emergency response have reportedly been inadequate, with athletes left without immediate medical attention in several instances.

Food Quality Concerns: Several teams have raised alarms over the poor quality and insufficient quantity of meals provided — a basic welfare failure that has added insult to injury.

What was meant to be a celebration of Nigerian sportsmanship has now been overshadowed by the disgraceful treatment of athletes — especially those from the host state. Social media is abuzz with images and videos of the protest, prompting questions about Governor Dapo Abiodun’s seriousness in hosting the Games.

Observers say the situation paints a grim picture of a government more focused on political optics than actual preparedness or the well-being of its citizens.

“If the host state can’t take care of its own athletes, how do you expect them to care for athletes from other states?” a coach from another delegation asked rhetorically.

As the crisis deepens, the Nigerian sports community is calling for immediate intervention from the National Sport Commission, as well as a public explanation from the Ogun State Government. Many are demanding the resignation of top state sports officials and an independent investigation into how funds meant for the athletes were mismanaged.

Until swift and tangible action is taken, the credibility of the National Sports Festival — and Ogun State’s reputation — hangs in the balance.