A Preventable Tragedy: Honoring the Lives Lost and Rethinking Athlete Safety

My heart goes out to the Government and people of Kano State, and the families of the innocent 22 young people who tragically lost their lives while returning from the just concluded National Sports Festival that took place in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

These deaths were preventable, and it’s time we take the necessary steps to ensure such tragedies do not happen again. How many more lives must be lost before we act?

For those who might view this issue through a political lens, consider the collective pain of the government of Kano State, families of the deceased, and the sports community. We should be solution providers and not blame seekers. Let’s prioritize athlete safety and take the necessary actions to prevent future tragedies.

One way to accomplish this is for states far from the event centers to prioritize participation based on strength and logistical feasibility. States don’t need to take part in every event.

In the future, let’s arrange for the athletes to be flown to and from the event centers. If the children of the elites were on this team, would they have boarded the bus?

Grace and peace!!!