Drama In Ogun State as Athletes Block Games Village in Protest Over Unpaid Allowances

Tensions flared at the 22nd National Sports Festival on Wednesday morning as Ogun State athletes hosts of the biennial sporting event staged a protest over unpaid allowances, bringing all movement in and out of the Games Village to a grinding halt.

The athletes, who converged as early as 6 a.m., blocked every entrance of Babcock University, the designated Games Village, preventing transportation of other state contingents to their various competition venues. With chants demanding their pay, the athletes declared that no event would proceed unless their grievances were addressed.

“We have not received any part of the ₦50,000 the Governor promised us when we arrived in camp,” said one athlete, speaking under the condition of anonymity. “This is not just about that ₦50,000 – all our other allowances have been held back too. We’ve competed and represented this state with pride, but they keep pushing us aside. We have blocked all the gates of the Babcock University which is the festival camp so that nobody competes today until we are paid. If we allow the festival to end, we will not get this money again.”

The protest comes just a day before the official closing ceremony of the Festival, which began on May 16 and is scheduled to end on May 29, 2025.

As of the time of filing this report, athletes and officials from other states remain stranded at the Games Village, unable to proceed to their competition venues due to the blockade.

There has been no official response from the Ogun State Government or the Local Organising Committee regarding the protest. Tensions remain high as the athletes insist on direct intervention from the state governor.

This story is developing.

UPDATE

As of 9:30am, the ongoing protest by Ogun State athletes at the 22nd National Sports Festival has entered a tense new phase this morning.

Athletes representing the host state have refused to vacate the gates of the Games Village, located on the Babcock University campus, in protest over unpaid allowances. Despite the arrival of the Assistant Ogun State Commissioner of Police, ACP Alabi Akintoye who attempted to persuade the athletes to disperse and allow access for other teams, the athletes remain defiant.

Chanting loudly and in unison, they declared:

“We no go gree o”
“We want all our money”
“No gree for anybody”
“Let the Governor or Commissioner for Sports come and talk to us or send our allowances.”

The protest has effectively brought the National Sports Festival to a standstill, as no team is being allowed to enter or exit the Games Village. Events scheduled for this morning have been disrupted.

As of 9:30am on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, Security has been significantly beefed up at the Babcock University campus, the hub of this year’s National Sports Festival. The Ogun State Commissioner of Police is now leading a heavy security contingent at the scene. However, their presence has not swayed the protesting athletes, who continue to block access points and insist on full payment of their allowances before any movement can resume.

SportsRation is on ground and can exclusively confirm that all Festival proceedings are currently paused pending resolution of the standoff.