Izuchukwu Okosi
Ogun Sports Commissioner, Wasiu Isiaka, has quashed talks of an unrest following the mild drama that ensued Wednesday morning at the ‘Gateway Games’ 2025 National Sports Festival.
Athletes representing Ogun State reportedly protested monies owed them by the State Government.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIsiaka however refuted the claims in an exclusive interview with sports journalists in Abeokuta.
The 22nd National Sports Festival (Gateway Games 2025) have lived up to expectations in terms of quality of athletes’ performances but the development on Wednesday threatens to derail the good job of the Local Organizing Committee and State Government.
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“Some athletes complained they hadn’t received their allowances. But the issue wasn’t that the funds weren’t provided – it was with transferring money into accounts held in non-commercial banks.
“Some people are even claiming the athletes are owed N50,000. That’s not true,” the Commissioner clarified.
“The money in question is what the governor promised them for qualifying to represent the state. I’m not aware of any unpaid allowances,” Isiaka stressed.
The Commissioner added that logistical issues like delay in the distribution of tracksuits had also been exaggerated.
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He acknowledged that agitations are not out of place in such competitions and urged the public to distinguish between legitimate concerns and misinformation.
The supposed protest took place at the Babcock University, Abeokuta.
Kwara State defeated the Nigerian U-17 men’s national team, Golden Eaglets in the final of the football event.
Delta State won the women’s football event.
The Delta Ladies edged the Nigeria U-17 lasses on penalties 7-6 after regulation time ended goalless at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta.
Delta women qualified for the semi-final after beating Team Osun, while the Flamingos beat Ogun 1-0 in the second semi-final.
The Flamingos participated in the 22nd National Sports Festival as part of the praiseworthy Invited Junior Athletes (IJA) initiative of the National Sports Commission.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
