Ogun’s National Sports Festival under threat: Stadium delays loom just days before kick-off

By Our Reporters

With just two days to the opening of the 22nd National Sports Festival, concerns are mounting over Ogun State’s readiness as major construction works at the Moshood Kashimawo Abiola (MKO) Stadium in Kuto, Abeokuta, remain incomplete.

The much-anticipated event, tagged Gateway Games 2025, is scheduled to run from May 16 to 30, and will bring together no fewer than 15,000 athletes from Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Athletes will compete in 549 events across various sports disciplines, with a total of 2,150 medals—626 gold, 626 silver, and 898 bronze—up for grabs.

The Games will be hosted at multiple venues, including the MKO Abiola Sports Complex and the Alake Sports Centre in Abeokuta, the state capital. Despite the excitement surrounding the event, delays in construction and preparations have raised concerns among stakeholders.

Adding a new dimension to this year’s edition is the inclusion of an Invited Junior Athletes category, aimed at providing a platform for emerging talents to compete alongside established stars.

However, economic expectations from the festival have also stirred controversy. Many local traders and small business owners had hoped to benefit from the influx of visitors by securing designated spaces to sell their goods during the two-week event. The state government, in response, allocated spaces for traders—charging ₦50,000 for space allocation, ₦20,000 for kiosk construction, and ₦5,000 for application forms.

What has sparked public outcry is the revelation that payments are being directed to an account belonging to Medmot Pharmacy Limited, a private entity, raising questions about transparency and accountability.

Some prospective vendors have voiced their disappointment. Mrs. Akinleye, a petty trader, said she was discouraged by the high fees and uncertainty of recouping her investment, especially with many others selling similar products.

“If I pay for the space, how will I afford to stock my goods?” she lamented.

Similarly, Alhaja Sekinat Ajoke Ajayi, a clothing vendor, questioned the rationale behind the pricing.

“Clothes don’t sell every day. In this economy, it’s simply not worth the risk,” she said.

Despite these issues, Governor Dapo Abiodun has reiterated his administration’s commitment to delivering a world-class festival that promotes national unity, talent discovery, and economic development.