The Ogun State Government has reacted to a protest staged by its athletes at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival, describing their action as unnecessary and impatient, even as it confirmed that payments were already being processed.
On Monday, several athletes representing Ogun State blocked the entrance of the games village at Babcock University in Ilishan-Remo, protesting unpaid allowances.
The demonstration began around 5:30 am, halting movement in and out of the facility and leaving many stranded until the gates were reopened at 12:43 pm. According to the athletes, their action was fueled by delays in receiving their agreed festival payments.
The protest, which took place just two days before the official end of the multi-sport event, disrupted activities scheduled for the day. All events except the marathon started late, causing some concern among organizers and participants.
Reacting to the situation, the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, expressed disappointment over the incident. He noted that the protest contradicted the spirit and goals of the sports festival.
“Governor Dapo Abiodun remains deeply sensitive and committed to the welfare of all participants at the festival. There is no circumstance under which he would allow Ogun athletes to suffer or be neglected,” Akinmade said.
“The protest by a few athletes is not only unfortunate but also uncalled for. It stands in stark contrast to the immense success the state has recorded in hosting the festival — from the grand opening ceremony to the impressive performance of Team Ogun,” he added.
He further noted that the athletes acted out of impatience, as the government had already concluded arrangements to disburse the promised payments. He described their actions as misinformed and unnecessary.
Following the protest, some athletes confirmed they received N50,000 as an initial payment, along with an additional N140,000 towards their festival allowances. However, many of them maintained that the full agreed amount was N210,000, based on a daily rate of N15,000 over 14 days.
The 2024 edition of the National Sports Festival wraps up today with a closing ceremony at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta. This is the second time Ogun State has hosted the festival, with the first being in 2006.
As of the final tally, Team Ogun sits in third place on the medal table, with 53 gold, 44 silver, and 52 bronze medals — a notable performance despite the disruption.
