Benue State was conspicuously absent during the opening ceremony of the National Sports Festival, tagged Gateway Games 2025, which commenced on Sunday in Ogun State.

The multi-sport event, which officially began on May 18 and will run until May 30, featured contingents from across Nigeria participating in the ceremonial parade, with Benue State being the only state without representation on the field.

According to reports, Benue remained the only state without a registered contingent at the time of the opening ceremony. Attempts to reach the Benue State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon. Terkimbi Ikyange, for comments were unsuccessful as calls and messages went unanswered.

However, Emmanuel Agye, Secretary of the Benue Wrestling Association, has provided some clarification on the situation. "We are here already. Benue is here," Agye stated. "We arrived late due to some hurdles on the way, but we are present now and ready to participate."

The Gateway Games 2025 is Nigeria's premier national sports competition, bringing together athletes from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to compete in various sporting disciplines.

While Benue's absence at the opening ceremony raised concerns, the wrestling team's confirmation of their arrival suggests that the state will still participate in the competition despite missing the ceremonial parade.

The National Sports Festival will continue until May 30, with athletes competing for medals across multiple sporting events in various venues throughout Ogun State.