Gateway Games: ₦11.5B Stadium Renovation Go Dark As Racers Run Blind

In a scene that left athletes and spectators bewildered, the MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta was engulfed in darkness during a key event at the ongoing Gateway Games, Ogun State’s much-publicized sports festival.

The power outage occurred in Ogun State,  popularly known as the Gateway State of Nigeria, mid-competition, forcing athletes to continue their races in pitch black conditions, risking injury and raising urgent questions about the state government’s infrastructure priorities.

The embarrassing incident comes despite the staggering ₦11.5 billion reportedly spent on the renovation and rebranding of the stadium under the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun. The renovation was meant to position the Gateway state as a sporting hub and provide world-class facilities to local and international athletes.

However, rather than showcasing technological advancement and precision, the Gateway games were reduced to chaos as officials scrambled in vain to restore power while athletes improvised with mobile phone lights and flashlights from the crowd.

“Is this the ‘state-of-the-art’ complex we were promised?” asked one dismayed athlete, still catching his breath after navigating a 400-meter dash in total darkness. “All we heard was billions spent, but we didn’t know it was on darkness.”

Social media erupted with sarcasm and outrage. Some users dubbed it the “MKO Midnight Olympics,” while others suggested Governor Abiodun include “solar-powered candlelight” in the next phase of the stadium’s development. “Only in Nigeria do you spend ₦11.5 billion and forget to install a reliable power source,” one commentator posted.

Critics say this fiasco symbolizes deeper issues of governance, transparency, and misplaced priorities in public spending. “This isn’t just about a blackout,” said civil rights advocate, Kemi Ajayi. “It’s about accountability. How do you spend that much money and forget the basics? Lights, water, safety, that’s non-negotiable.”

Attempts to reach the Ogun State Ministry of Sports for comment were unsuccessful as at press time. Meanwhile, organizers have promised to “investigate the incident thoroughly,” a familiar refrain in Nigeria’s cycle of recurring infrastructure failures.

As the Gateway Games continue, one wonders: will the next event be held by torchlight?

For more on this developing story on the Gateway state, visit [fasnewsng.com](https://fasnewsng.com).

Edited By Folake Sokoya