Gateway Games Disruption: Ogun Athletes Protest Over Unpaid Allowances, Leave Participants Stranded
Athletes representing Ogun State at the 22nd National Sports Festival have staged a protest over unpaid allowances, blocking access to the games village at Babcock University and leaving participants from other states stranded.
The protest began on Wednesday, just two days before the festival’s conclusion, as the Ogun athletes demanded full payment of their agreed allowances before allowing access to the venue.
Although the state government had disbursed ₦50,000 as earlier promised by Governor Dapo Abiodun, and an additional ₦140,000 as part of the athletes’ festival allowance, the protesting athletes insist that the full allowance should total ₦210,000.
This amount, according to the Athletes representing Ogun State, was based on a daily rate of ₦15,000 for 14 days.
“We received ₦50,000 this morning as the governor promised, but to our surprise, they’re paying just ₦140,000 for the allowance instead of ₦210,000,” one athlete told FCNN reporters
Another athlete added, “We are standing in solidarity. No one is leaving here until we get the full amount. The festival ends tomorrow, and even if we’re short by ₦50, we are not moving.”
The protest caused a major disruption at the games village, preventing buses from moving athletes and officials to their events, including several finals.
Ahead of the festival, Governor Abiodun had also pledged cash rewards of ₦2.5 million for each gold medalist from Ogun, ₦1.5 million for silver medalists, and ₦1 million for bronze winners.
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As of now, Ogun State ranks third on the festival’s medals table with 48 gold, 38 silver, and 47 bronze medals.
