The Director General of Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, has revealed that many athletes, who left the state to compete for other states in the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival are begging to return to the Centre of Excellence.

Fatodu, who spoke with journalists in Abeokuta, on Wednesday night, also revealed that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has put all machinery in place to host the 2026 National Youth Games (NYG).

“As we speak, many athletes who left Lagos State to compete for other states, particularly in the South-South in this ongoing National Sports Festival are begging to return home. They have seen the difference between how we do things with sincerity and other states that just want to use them and dump them,” he said.

According to him, Lagos State government has made life easy for sportsmen and women, including their coaches.
“Our Governor has been very supportive. He listens to us and proffers quick solutions to issues that concern athletes and coaches. Within the last 12 to 16 months, Lagos State has increased the salary of athletes and coaches twice. It has never happened in the history of Nigeria. It is not about throwing quick cash on athletes, but ability to think about their future.

“Now, majority of the athletes that ran to compete for other states have seen a big difference. They want to return to Lagos. Apart from putting the infrastructure in place for the athletes, we have rejuvenated our schoolsports and grassroots sports. We provide transportation for our athletes to anywhere in the state for training.

“In the build up to this National Sports Festival, we added N50,000 to the allowances of our athletes. As I said, it is not about dangling N5 million before them, which won’t eventually get to the athletes,” he stated.

On the ongoing Ogun 2025 National Sports Festival, Fatodu expressed confidence that Team Lagos will finish on a high note. “My appeal is that there should be level-playing ground for all the states to compete fairly. The Games are still early, and I am confident that Team Lagos will finish among the top contenders.”