Chaos at Gateway Games as Ogun athletes protest unpaid allowances

Athletes representing Ogun State brought the Gateway Games 2024 (the 22nd National Sports Festival) to a grinding halt on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, as they protested the non-payment of their allowances.

The demonstration left fellow participants and officials stranded at the Games Village, located at Babcock University.

With just two days left in the multi-sport event, tensions boiled over early in the morning when Ogun athletes, dressed in their official tracksuits, blocked the exit of the Games Village in protest.

The demonstration reportedly began around 5:30 a.m., effectively preventing buses from leaving to transport athletes and officials to their various event venues.

“Photos and videos from the scene, shared by officials at the village, showed large groups of Ogun athletes obstructing movement at the gate, forcing other teams and participants to wait indefinitely.”

The protest caused significant delays in the day’s scheduled events and raised widespread concerns about the management and welfare of athletes, particularly given that Ogun is the host state for this year’s edition of the festival.

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An athlete speaking anonymously confirmed to reporters that the protest had been planned during a meeting the previous night, stating they were yet to be paid and were unsure of the allowance amounts.

As of the time of filing this report, there had been no official response from the Ogun State government or the festival’s organizing committee regarding the payment issues or efforts to resolve the standoff.

The defiance of the athletes, who have reportedly refused to disperse despite the presence of security personnel, underscores the growing frustration over the unfulfilled financial commitments.

This incident has cast a shadow over the “Gateway Games 2024,” raising questions about the host state’s preparedness and commitment to athlete welfare, even as Team Ogun has maintained a competitive third-place standing on the medals table.