Athletes representing Ogun State at the ongoing National Sports Festival have launched a protest over the non-payment of their allowances, disrupting scheduled events and blocking access to key competition venues in Ogun State.

According to a post shared Wednesday morning on Facebook by Patrick Omorodion, a source close to the festival, the protesting athletes obstructed the entrance of the Games Village situated at Babcock University in Ilishan-Remo.

“Team Ogun athletes are protesting non payment of allowances and blocked the entrance of the Games Village at Babcock University at Ilishan-Remo. This may jeopardize the events of this morning as athletes are locked from proceeding to competition venues at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Kuto and the Alake Sports Centre in Ijeja. Most hit are the cycling contingent whose events are supposed to start at 8am.”

He further added that the protest could throw the day’s lineup of events into disarray.

“Breaking news: Team Ogun athletes are protesting non payment of allowances and blocked the entrance of the Games Village at Babcock University at Ilishan-Remo. This may jeopardize the events of this morning as athletes are locked from proceeding to competition venues at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Kuto and the Alake Sports Centre in Ijeja. Most hit are the cycling contingent whose events are supposed to start at 8am. The Sports Commissioner could not be reached as at the time of this write-up.”

The source also described the situation as a major embarrassment for the host state.

“Shame as Team Ogun athletes block gate to Games Village at Babcock University over non payment of their allowance by Ogun State government. Athletes who have events this morning are now stranded.”

This is coming barely four days after SaharaReporters reported that Nigerian athletes competing in the 10,000m final at the ongoing Sports Festival were forced to run in darkness after the floodlights at the newly renovated MKO Abiola Stadium suddenly went off mid-race.Travel guides

A video obtained by SaharaReporters captured the chaotic moment when the stadium lights failed, plunging the track and field into near-total darkness while athletes struggled to continue the race.

A journalist who witnessed the incident described the scene as “shameful” and “dangerous.”

“Stadium lights went off during the 10,000m final at the National Sports Festival.

Nigerian Athletes Run In The Dark As Light Goes Off In Newly Renovated MKO Stadium In Ogun At Ongoing Sports Festival
May 24, 2025
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Nigerian Athletes Run In The Dark As Light Goes Off In Newly Renovated MKO Stadium In Ogun At Ongoing Sports Festival
Athletes were forced to run in the dark. This is unacceptable in 2025,” the journalist said.

“Those responsible must be held accountable — such negligence has no place at the National Sports Festival.”

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