NSC orders mandatory insurance for sports festival teams after Kano tragedy

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has directed that all contingents participating in the National Sports Festival must now have comprehensive insurance cover, alongside mechanical certification and insurance for all official vehicles.

This new mandate comes in response to the tragic road accident that claimed the lives of 22 athletes from Kano State while they were returning from the recently concluded 22nd National Sports Festival, dubbed the ‘Gateway Games 2024’, held in Ogun State.

In a statement issued by the NSC’s Director of Press, Mrs. Kehinde Ajayi, the Commission acknowledged that while transportation arrangements for contingents are typically the responsibility of individual state sports councils, the unfortunate incident has underscored the urgent need for a standardised national policy to protect athletes’ welfare.

To address this, the Commission announced plans to organise a post-Games safety roundtable with all state sports commissions, aimed at reviewing existing travel protocols and promoting best practices for safeguarding athletes.

Furthermore, the NSC disclosed that it would carry out a thorough compliance audit before future festivals to ensure that all participating teams meet established safety, insurance, and welfare standards.