Ogun Government criticizes athletes’ protest over unpaid allowances at National Sports Festival

The Ogun State Government has criticized the protest staged by some of its athletes at the 22nd National Sports Festival, labeling it an act of impatience. The athletes had blocked the gates of the Games Village at Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, on Monday, May 27, 2025, over unpaid allowances, causing significant disruption and leaving other participants stranded for several hours.

The demonstration, which began around 5:30 a.m., lasted until 12:43 p.m. when the athletes finally reopened the gates after confirming the partial disbursement of their allowances. The protest occurred just two days before the conclusion of the multi-sport event, casting a shadow over the festival’s final days.

In response, the state government expressed regret over the incident, stating that it severely disrupted the festival’s schedule and caused most events on Wednesday—with the exception of the marathon—to start late.

Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, described the protest as “unfortunate and uncalled for,” particularly considering the administration’s stated efforts to ensure athletes’ welfare.

Following the protest, the athletes confirmed they received N50,000, as initially promised by the governor, along with an additional N140,000.

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However, they insisted their total entitlement was N210,000, based on a daily allowance of N15,000 for 14 days, indicating a remaining shortfall.

The 2024 National Sports Festival, dubbed the “Gateway Games,” concludes today, Thursday, May 29, 2025, with a closing ceremony at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta. This marks the second time Ogun State has hosted the festival, the first being in 2006.

As of the final day, Team Ogun is ranked third on the medals table, with an impressive haul of 53 gold, 44 silver, and 52 bronze medals.