The athletes representing the host state of Ogun at the 22nd National Sports Festival on Wednesday took to the streets to protest their unpaid allowances. Their action left other athletes and officials stranded at the Games Village at Babcock University, as they blocked the entrance to the Village demanding the payment of their allowances with two days to the end of the Gateway Games.
Journalists on ground at the Games said that the situation began as early as 5.30am.
In videos and pictures of the incident on social media, the protesters blocked off the exit of other participating athletes from the games village. Videos and pictures circulated from the Games Village, showed buses conveying athletes to different venues of events were stranded as athletes in Ogun tracksuits were seen blocking the gate.
One of the athletes representing Ogun State said they were yet to be paid and do not know how much the state would pay them in terms of allowances.
The athletes accused officials of failing to fulfil the financial commitments made before the commencement of competition.
Ogun is the host of the 22nd National Sports Festival, and Dapo Abiodun, the state’s governor, had pledged cash incentives of N2.5 million for each gold medal, N1.5 million for silver, and N1 million for bronze won by its athletes.
Ogun is currently ranked third on the overall medals table. The state has a total of 114 medals — having secured 44 gold, 29 silver, and 41 bronze.
Extrasportnigeria 
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