UYO – What was meant to be a celebratory finale to the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF) in Uyo turned into tension and locked gates as angry athletes staged a protest over unpaid allowances on Tuesday.
Athletes from Cross River, Abia, Imo, and Ondo States, camped at Cornelia Connelly College (CCC), made it clear: no payment, no departure. With the festival wrapping up the same day, they refused to pack up or leave, locking the gates to their hostels in a symbolic move of frustration and resistance.
“We made this festival happen. We ran, we competed, we endured poor conditions—and this is how we’re treated?” said one athlete, who chose to remain anonymous. “No official told us what we were even supposed to get. Now the event is over and we’re going back home empty-handed. How do I explain this to my family?”
Another athlete, visibly upset, added: “We heard NDDC released the funds, but now they’re saying a consultant is handling it? All we want is clarity and what we rightfully deserve.”
The protest revealed a deeper issue—lack of transparency. Athletes said they were never informed about the specific allowance amounts or when to expect them. Many had expected payment during the festival, not after, and were disheartened that the efforts and sacrifices they made were being treated with silence and delays.
Meanwhile, Sir Itiakor Ikpokpo, Co-chairman of the Main Organising Committee and the festival’s appointed consultant (DUNAMIS ICON), responded via phone, attributing the delay to technical issues with REMITA, the digital payment platform being used to disburse funds.
“Over 4,000 athletes and officials are to be paid,” Ikpokpo said. “Some states only submitted bank details yesterday. We’ve started processing, and before the end of today (Tuesday), at least six states will start receiving their alerts.”
He assured that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the festival’s sponsor, had fulfilled its financial commitments and that no athlete would be left unpaid.
But for the athletes, reassurances weren’t enough—at least not without alerts on their phones and money in their accounts.
As the sun set on the debut of the NDSF, the mood shifted from celebration to protest, raising critical questions about athlete welfare and the need for greater accountability in organizing regional sporting events.
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