By Yusuf Aminu Yusuf

More than one year after 22 Kano athletes, coaches, officials, medical personnel and journalists lost their lives in a tragic road accident while returning from the National Sports Festival in Ogun State, families of the deceased and survivors say they are still waiting for compensation, land allocations and employment opportunities promised by the Kano State Government.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, the state government announced a support package for the victims and their families. The government promised N5 million, a plot of land and permanent employment for one member of each family of the 22 deceased victims. It also pledged N2 million and a plot of land each to the 10 injured survivors.

The promises came amid an outpouring of sympathy from political leaders, sports administrators and members of the public across the country, many of whom also announced various forms of support for the victims and their families.

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However, representatives of the victims told SolaceBase that while several prominent individuals have fulfilled their pledges, commitments made by the Kano State Government and the National Sports Commission (NSC) remain outstanding.

The accident occurred at Dakatsalle, about 40 kilometres from Kano city, as members of the state’s contingent were returning from the 22nd National Sports Festival held in Ogun State in 2025.

The crash, which occurred on May 31st, 2025, claimed the lives of 22 people, left 10 others injured and plunged Kano State and the nation into mourning.

According to one of the victims’ representatives, who requested anonymity, the state government initially provided N1 million and food items to the victims and their families shortly after the incident.

Also speaking to SolaceBase, former Vice Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), North-West Zone, Ado Salisu, said many of the promises made by individuals had been redeemed.

“The incident truly happened, and many individuals such as the wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Senator Barau Jibrin and others made promises and fulfilled them,” he said.

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Salisu, however, said the promises made by the Kano State Government have yet to be fulfilled.

“Up till now, the Kano State Government has not fulfilled the promises it made, especially the N5 million compensation, plots of land and employment opportunities. But we are hopeful they will be fulfilled soon,” he said.

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Furthermore, Salisu said the National Sports Commission, whose Chairman, Shehu Dikko, visited Kano to sympathise with the victims and their families after the tragedy, had also not fulfilled promises reportedly made during the visit.

“The Sports Commission also made promises, but they have not been fulfilled yet,” he added.

Similarly, another representative of the victims, Salisu Jegus, said commitments made by individuals had largely been fulfilled, unlike those of the Kano State Government and the National Sports Commission.

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“All the promises made have been fulfilled except those from the Kano State Government and the National Sports Commission. We are hopeful that they will be fulfilled soon, especially those of the state government,” he said.

Responding to the concerns, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Sports, Sani Musa Danja, said Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had already approved the compensation package and other benefits promised to the victims and their families.

According to Danja, the delay is due to an ongoing verification process.

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“The reason it is taking time is because of the verification process, but everyone will be paid once the Governor is back,” he said.

He added that families of the 22 deceased victims would receive the approved N5 million compensation, plots of land and employment opportunities, while the 10 injured victims would receive N2 million and a plot of land each.

For now, however, more than a year after the tragedy, the victims’ families and survivors are still waiting for the promises to be translated into reality.