A source who spoke on condition of anonymity disclosed that the state will reward gold medallists in individual and doubles events with ₦300,000, while gold-winning teams will receive ₦700,000.
Silver medallists in individual and doubles events are expected to receive ₦200,000, and teams will share ₦500,000. Bronze winners in individual and doubles categories will be awarded ₦150,000, while bronze-winning teams will get ₦350,000.
The cash incentives follow Lagos State’s impressive performance at the Gateway Games, where the state finished sixth, securing 38 gold, 43 silver and 88 bronze medals.
Protest, Compromise and Reform
In September 2025, athletes stormed the Lagos State Secretariat in Alausa to demand payment of cash rewards. They submitted protest letters to the Office of the Governor and the Lagos State House of Assembly, expressing dissatisfaction over delayed incentives.
The protest prompted the Lagos State Sports Commission to dissolve the “senior athletes” committee and introduce biometric data capture for athlete profiling, facility access, monitoring and career sustainability programmes.
Following several meetings between the commission’s management and athletes’ representatives, both parties agreed that cash rewards would be paid only for the most recent NSF, not the previous two editions.
Commission Cites Governor’s Example
The Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, said the decision was inspired by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s gesture of awarding cash gifts to junior athletes after they topped the 2025 National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State.
“Mr Governor has approved cash rewards for medals at the last NSF,” Fatodu told The PUNCH. “The LSSC used the unprecedented victory of the U-15 athletes to plead the case of NSF athletes too.”
He added that athletes had previously requested cash incentives before the 2024 NSF, but he could not promise what he could not deliver. Fatodu assured that the commission had met welfare needs, provided kits, and ensured that statutory competition allowances and grants were paid on time.
Lagos Dominates National Youth Games
Following the NSF, Team Lagos also performed strongly at the ninth National Youth Games, dethroning hosts Delta State by winning 110 medals, including 52 gold, 32 silver and 26 bronze.
Tougher Qualification Rules for Team Sports
With the 2026 National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Enugu State, the Lagos State Sports Commission has reportedly tightened qualification criteria for team sports.
“One of the athletes told our correspondent: “Going forward, such things won’t happen again and no more jamboree for team sports. It is either first from the zonal eliminations or nothing.”
He added that no athlete representative would be allowed to plead for a sport that placed second in zonal qualifiers, and that the upcoming Enugu festival is expected to be “better than the rest.”