National Sports Festival: Athletes Run in Darkness as Lights Fail at Newly Renovated MKO Abiola Stadium

Nigerian athletes competing in the 10,000m final at the ongoing National Sports Festival in Ogun State were forced to run in near-total darkness after floodlights at the newly renovated MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta abruptly went off mid-race. The incident, captured in a widely shared video obtained by SaharaReporters, showed the chaotic scene as runners continued their race without lighting, raising serious concerns about safety and infrastructure.

Eyewitnesses described the moment as both dangerous and disgraceful. A journalist present at the event condemned the failure, calling it “unacceptable in 2025” and demanding accountability from those responsible. The stadium, which was recently refurbished with public funds, had been promoted as a flagship project representing the government’s commitment to improving sports facilities. However, the blackout has cast doubt on the effectiveness of the renovations and the competence of event organizers.

The incident has added to growing scrutiny of the Ogun State government’s handling of the festival, particularly under Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration. Earlier in the week, chaos also erupted at another major venue, the Alake Sports Complex in Ijeja, Abeokuta, when a diesel truck supplying fuel to a generator caught fire, triggering panic among athletes and spectators. The fire sent thick plumes of smoke into the sky and led to a stampede-like situation, disrupting scheduled events and sparking fears of a mass casualty.

According to a statement from Nathaniel Mobolade of SSI Media, the truck’s driver managed to move it away from the venue before the fire intensified, preventing injuries or fatalities. The Ogun State Fire Service eventually extinguished the blaze, though it reportedly took about 45 minutes for responders to arrive.