Olaleye Idowu
A vehicle transporting members of the Tunisian delegation participating in the ongoing CAA U18/U20 African Athletics Championship in Abeokuta, Ogun State, was involved in a road accident on Saturday.
The accident occurred along Kobape road while the team was en route to the Games Village from the MKO Abiola Sports Arena.
Confirming the incident, the National Sports Commission (NSC) in a statement signed by Kola Daniel, Special Assistant on Media to the Director General, said the affected vehicle was not travelling with the established safety protocol, which is usually accompanied by security and support personnel.
According to the statement, Governor Dapo Abiodun, who was coincidentally commuting along the same route, immediately rendered first response assistance at the scene.
Urban Express News Online learnt that the injured athletes were taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, where they received first aid attention before being transferred to a different facility for more thorough care.
The statement added that the NSC Director General, Bukola Olopade and Governor Abiodun arrived at the hospital shortly after the incident and have been personally overseeing the care of the affected athletes.
“Fortunately, His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, Governor of Ogun State, happened to be commuting along the same route and immediately rendered first response assistance at the scene.
“The injured athletes were swiftly transported to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Abeokuta, where they received first aid attention and later moved to another facility for adequate treatment,” the statement reads.
The commission, stressing that the safety and well-being of all athletes and participants remain its top priority, expressed its deepest sympathies to the colleagues, families, and the Tunisian delegation of the injured athletes.
Meanwhile, the NSC applauded the prompt response to the situation by the Ogun State Government, medical personnel and security agencies.
Urban Express News Online reported that the championship, which has over 500 athletes from more than 50 African countries, started on Wednesday, July 16, and is expected to end on Sunday, July 20, 2025.
