Panic as explosion rocks Gateway games venue

A gas explosion at the Alake Sports Complex in Ijeja, Abeokuta — one of the venues for the ongoing 2024 National Sports Festival — sparked panic on Tuesday, temporarily halting sporting activities.

According to eyewitnesses, the explosion occurred when a gas truck delivering fuel to the complex’s generator caught fire.

The sudden blaze caused chaos among athletes, officials, and spectators in the vicinity.

Emergency response teams swiftly arrived at the scene and were able to contain the fire before it spread or caused significant damage.

No casualties have been reported as of the time of this report.

Sporting events at the venue, including handball, squash, and badminton, were briefly paused but have since resumed following the restoration of safety.

Authorities have yet to release an official statement on the cause of the fire or whether further investigations will be conducted.

The National Sports Festival, Nigeria’s premier multi-sport event, is currently underway across several venues in Ogun State.