Pioneer President of the Nigerian Skating Federation, Comrade Joseph Evah, has emphasized the need for ongoing advocacy to ensure that the tragic deaths of 22 Kano State athletes and officials are not overlooked.
He warned that without consistent pressure on authorities, the incident risks fading from public memory, with officials merely issuing statements that soon become forgotten.Speaking at a press conference in Lagos State on Tuesday, Evah stressed the importance of honoring the fallen and ensuring the government shows genuine concern. “We must ensure these deaths are not in vain.
The government should do more than just talk—they should show they care, especially to the grieving families,” he said.The victims died in a road accident on Saturday near Gadar Yankifi along the Kaduna-Kano expressway while returning from the 2024 National Sports Festival in Ogun State.
The crash involved a Kano State Government coaster bus, which the Federal Road Safety Corps attributed to fatigue and high speed. Reports indicated the bus had broken down multiple times prior to the accident, raising questions about transportation safety and the condition of vehicles used for athlete travel.Evah condemned the Kano State government for allowing athletes to travel in such poor conditions, calling it shameful. He questioned whether the government would provide such an old vehicle for politicians on campaign trips, highlighting the disparity in vehicle standards.He called on the Minister of Sports and the Kano State governor to visit Kano to meet with the families of the victims and demonstrate leadership and compassion. “They should be seen on TV showing concern.
The government has a duty to respond to this tragedy,” he said. Evah also warned that if authorities fail to act, he is prepared to pursue legal action to ensure accountability.Drawing from his experience leading the Nigeria Skaters Federation, Evah pointed out the ongoing issue of inadequate insurance coverage for athletes, especially in high-risk sports. “When I was president, we faced many challenges because of insufficient support and political will,” he lamented.Elijah Andrew, Chief of Staff of the Ijaw Monitoring Group, criticized Kano State’s N1 million compensation offer to the victims’ families as inadequate and insulting. He argued that the young athletes, who sacrificed their lives representing their state, deserved more recognition, including state funerals and memorials.Rachel Nwabia, an alumna of the National Association of Ijaw Female Students, echoed calls for the Kano State government to conduct condolence visits to the families. However, she expressed doubt about their willingness to act without media pressure. She suggested that the federal government should honor the fallen athletes with monuments in national stadiums to inspire youth participation in sports.
The accident exposed longstanding issues in Nigerian sports administration, particularly regarding athlete welfare and transportation safety.
The victims, which included athletes from wrestling and kickboxing, journalists, sports officials, referees, medical personnel, and drivers, were returning from the Gateway Games 2024, which concluded last Thursday.Among the deceased was Imam Umar Fagge, a football referee and brother of the acting Kano State Sports Commission chairman.
He described the victims as “some of our best at the sports commission.
The Federal Road Safety Corps has launched an investigation into the crash, with officials noting that the accident occurred at a known dangerous spot. President Bola Tinubu described the incident as a “devastating blow to the nation” and urged concrete measures to prevent future tragedies.
The National Sports Commission has announced plans to implement mandatory comprehensive insurance for all sports contingents and mechanical certification for vehicles used during sports events. Critics, however, argue that these measures should have been in place long before this tragedy occurred.In response, the Ogun State Government sent a delegation led by Deputy Governor Engineer Naimot Salako-Oyedele and donated N31 million to support the victims’ families.
PROF’LEE9JA ⛱️MEDIA
