A serious road accident involving five Tunisian athletes en route to the African U18/U20 Athletics Championships in Abeokuta has raised critical questions over Ogun State’s capacity to host international sporting events.
The crash, which occurred on Saturday, involved a vehicle transporting four female and one male athlete from the Tunisian delegation. Reports indicate the vehicle was not part of the official convoy and lacked proper escort.
Governor Dapo Abiodun was reported to be nearby when the incident occurred and personally ensured that the injured were swiftly taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta. While the athletes received initial care, they were later airlifted to a private hospital in Lekki, Lagos due to the state’s limited emergency care capacity.
Officials from the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) confirmed the injured athletes are now stable and receiving specialized treatment in Lagos.
The incident has sparked a wave of criticism across social platforms, with leading African sports journalist Osasu Obayiuwana questioning the rationale behind selecting a host city lacking critical medical infrastructure for a major international competition.
“Why would a state without adequate trauma care be chosen to host athletes from across the continent?” Obayiuwana tweeted.
Despite the unfortunate event, the championship has continued as planned. Nigerian gold medal winners are receiving ₦1 million each as part of a reward scheme to boost morale and performance.
However, the accident has cast a shadow over the tournament, intensifying scrutiny of the safety and preparedness measures in place for hosting global events in Nigeria.
With the affected athletes recovering in Lagos, stakeholders are now calling for a thorough review of future host city selections—emphasizing the need for stringent standards in medical and emergency readiness.