Members of the National Association of Caterers in Nigeria took to the streets of Abeokuta on Thursday to protest their alleged exclusion from catering services at the 2025 National Sports Festival taking place in Ogun State.

The protesters, carrying placards with inscriptions such as "Caterers Are Hungry", "Gov Dapo Give Us Our Job", and "National Sport Festival Not State Festival", expressed frustration over being denied accreditation despite traveling from various parts of the country with foodstuff and catering materials.

Mrs. Francisca Ojo, National President of the association, speaking on behalf of the protesters, lamented that many members had traveled from Lagos, Abuja, Kaduna, Imo, Calabar, Rivers, and other states across Nigeria in preparation for the event.

"We have spent our own money, paid for transportation and hotel accommodation, brought food supplies. Now we're stranded. This is our fatherland. We're not asking for favors; we're asking for fairness," she stated.

The association claimed that catering contracts for the sports festival had been awarded to Babcock University instead of local caterers, many of whom are widows and struggling women who depend on such opportunities to support their families and fund their children's education.

Mrs. Ojo acknowledged that the Ogun State Commissioner for Sports had previously met with them and urged patience while efforts were being made to resolve the issue. However, she noted that no further communication had been received since that meeting.

The protesters also took their grievances to the Ogun State House of Assembly in Okemosan, Abeokuta, where they were addressed by Speaker Oludaisi Elemide. The Speaker assured them that their request to provide services at the Gateway Games would be communicated to the relevant government authorities for necessary action.

The 2025 National Sports Festival, also known as the Gateway Games, has already faced previous challenges, having been postponed from its earlier scheduled date to May 2025.