By Ben Efe 23.3.2026
Coaches and athletes who participated in the six weeks camp of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria ahead of the Commonwealth Games, are thanking whoever posted a viral video of athletes demonstrating over unpaid allowances.
One of the coaches who pleaded for anonymity said Monday that the AFN was not ready to pay the coaches and the athletes until a later date as the federation claimed that there was no money.
But last Friday when the video surfaced on the internet the federation quickly made money available for the payment, according to sources familiar with the matter.
“They weren’t ready to pay us when the camp was closed, they told us that we should wait till Monday March 23,” said the coach.
“It was after the video came out that we were paid. They weren’t ready to pay us, but when the video came out, they paid on Saturday March 21 at about 4.00pm.”
He said it was disheartening what is happening in Nigerian track and field as things seem to be getting worse rather than improve.
“We are supposed to compete with athletes from the UK, Jamaica, South Africa, Kenya, Botswana and others at the Commonwealth Games, while they are stepping preparations, we are protesting over unpaid allowances.
” Do you know it was from our pockets we were buying water, paying for the gym use and other exigencies and now at the end of the day you are giving us coaches N200,000 after six weeks?”
“Transport alone has gulp a N100, 000 for those of us who live far away, so It is because of N100k we have been here in Asaba for six weeks?”