World athletics championship: Nigerian athletes and AFN officials quarrel over unpaid wages, NSC intervenes
Athletes and technical officials representing Nigeria at the ongoing World Athletics championship taking place in Tokyo Japan are engulfed in a brawl with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria , AFN over the failure to the country’s representative’s their wage entitlements .
Nigeria’s campaign at the championship from onset had been thrown into brouhaha with allegations levied against AFN over the failure to register certain qualified athletes denying them the chance to fly the country’s flag at the international event.
Further scandal aroused with allegations of overflooding of the delegation with persons who have no business to be at the event in Japan leading to outcry over alleged waste of resources.
The latest scandal that rocked the Nigerian camp is the issue of non payment of the wages due to the athletes and their technical officials .
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria, AFN have spiritedly resort to the dismissal of all forms of alleged misdeeds been directed at its officials , describing these as smear campaigns being orchestrated by fifth columnist.
Nigeria’s sports governing body, the National Sport s Commission in a statement issued , Monday and made available to sports writers said “ The National Sports Commission (NSC) has successfully intervened in the recent challenges in Team Nigeria’s camp at the ongoing 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
The press released signed by the director of press at the commission, Dr (mrs) Kehinde Ajayi stated that “ The leadership of the NSC, led by Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director General, Hon. Bukola Olopade, has ensured the swift payment of all athletes’ bonuses and allowances in Tokyo.
Adding that “ Director General Hon. Bukola Olopade held a crucial meeting with the athletes and officials of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) in Tokyo, where he reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare and well-being of the country’s athletes at all times.
“The meeting also provided the DG with the opportunity to resolve outstanding issues between the athletes and the AFN, fostering optimism for a stronger and more collaborative relationship going forward.” NSC said.
