Over 300 sports journalists based in Edo State have been denied accreditation to cover the National Sports Festival hosted by the State Government.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is expected to declare the event, which started April 2, 2021, open on Tuesday by 7pm at Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin City.

But journalists from Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory who arrived at the weekend, had been accredited, amidst protest.

A former Vice President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), South West zone was said to have used his position to pave the way for journalists from Lagos State.

A journalist, who reports for a national daily and preferred to be anonymous lamented the way the state government treats his own people.

“How do we report stories to head office when we have been denied accreditation. We are the host state, and till today we haven’t received any accreditation tag that will allow us in to cover the event”, he alleged.

Some athletes from Edo State have started to cross carpet to neighbouring Delta State, following Governor Ifeanyi Okowa pledge to reward Athletes with a minimum of N250,000 each in addition to other sundry gifts.

Contacted, Chairman, Sub-media Committee, Local Organizing Committee, Mr. Musa Ebomhiana, denied hording the accreditation.

“They are not denying anybody accreditation. They will get it any time from now”, he said.

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