The nation mourns the death of some 20 members of the Kano State team to the 22nd National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State which came to a close on Friday, May 30th.
Sources disclosed that the mishap which caused fatalities involving over 20 members of the team occurred on account of a ghastly autocrash by the vehicle conveying them. Those affected are said to include athletes, journalists, sports administrators and coaches as they were just a few kilometers to Kano, the state capital.
While commiserating with the team, the state government through the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mustapha Rabiu Kwankwaso, “expressed deep sorrow over the unfortunate motor accident involving members of the Kano State contingent to the National Sports Festival tagged ‘Gateway 2024’ held in Ogun State.”
Going further, the Commissioner on behalf of the Kano State Government and the good people of the state, extended heartfelt sympathies to the affected athletes, officials, and their families.
“This is a deeply painful moment for all of us. We are devastated by the news of the ghastly accident that occurred as our athletes were returning home after representing our great state with pride and commitment. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and the entire sporting community in Kano,” Kwankwaso stated.
He described the incident as a moment of mourning for the entire state, adding that the government stands firmly with the affected individuals and will ensure they receive the necessary medical attention and support.
Kwankwaso also appreciated the efforts of first responders and medical personnel attending to the victims and assured the public that a full report of the incident will be received and appropriate actions taken.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of the Kano State Government to the welfare and safety of all athletes and officials who represent the state in national and international sporting engagements.
While commiserating with the families of all the athletes and officials of the Kano State Contingent who lost their lives in the tragic accident, Sport Integrity Foundation through its Secretary, Godwin Dele, urged “the federal government to declare a national mourning, investigate causes of the deaths, with recourse to having a safer future for our athletes” while also pleading with Kano State Government “to stand by the surviving person(s) and provide necessary support to the families of the deceased, beyond newspaper pages.”
In his own message of condolence, Tonobok Okowa, the President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria(AFN), stated that “the loss of these young and vibrant athletes—who gave their all to represent their state is a heartbreaking tragedy. Their dedication, courage, and passion for sports are commendable and will never be forgotten.”
On its part the National Sports Commission(NSC) among others promised “to convene a post-Games safety roundtable with all State Sports Commissions to review travel protocols and share safety best practices; a compliance audit will be conducted ahead of subsequent festivals to ensure that all contingents meet the minimum safety, insurance, and welfare requirements.”
NSC also talked about deploying a stronger monitoring mechanism during national events to prevent avoidable tragedies.
In addition, NSC stressed, “this incident must not be in vain. It must compel us all—federal and state authorities alike—to strengthen the systems that protect those who give their strength and spirit to represent our nation in sport.”
A glimpse at the official medals table as released by the Main Organising Committee(MOC) of the 22nd National Sports Festival showed that Kano State emerged as the 13th best team with 29 medals made up of 6 gold, 13 silver and 10 bronze.
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