Team Nigeria athletes at the ongoing basketball court (Alexander Kwapong Hall), University of Ghana’s Games Village with words rife they African Games in Ghana reportedly met last Saturday night at the were mostly unhappy.

The major issue the aggrieved athletes deliberated upon was their welfare as it was gathered that they were yet to get neither their camp allowances nor the bonuses by the Sports Ministry for winning different categories of medals.

Gold medalists were supposed to earn $3,000, silver medalists to get $2,000 while bronze medals will attract $1,000 bonuses.

It was gathered that the ministry has already appealed to the athletes to be patient and receive their entitlements when the contingents returns to Nigeria but our correspondent cannot confirm if the athletes eventually accepted the ministry’s overtures.

A source was quoted as saying that the athletes were asked to sign a non-disclosure deal with the ministry before leaving the shores of Nigeria for Ghana.

As regards their bonuses, Nigerian athletes having won 27 gold, 21 silver and 28 bronze medals are being owed a total of $151,000

Aside not yet receiving bonuses for medals won, the athletes are also yet to receive their camp allowances.

Recall that the Sport Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh, had earlier met with the athletes where he told them about how the new CBN policy on transferring cash was delaying the process and access to cash approved by the FGN. While he also assured them that their entitlements will reach them in due course, what he did not specify was when exactly they will receive their entitlements.

Meanwhile, some of the athletes have already left Ghana following the end of their various events without being paid. Some of the athletes who have left are table tennis, badminton, wrestling and weightlifting. (The Nation)

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