The Minister of Transportation Sen. Said Ahmed Alkali has highlighted the benefits of the use of bicycle to include reduction of carbon emission and for health benefits.
This was made known today at the Ministry’s Headquarters through the Director Overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Musa Ibrahim, in a bid to mark the 8th United Nations (UN) World Bicycle Day with the theme: Cycling for a sustainable future”.
He said the program to mark the 2025 edition is schedule for the 3rd and 14th June, 2025 with the National stakeholder’s workshop and Cycling Championship with the theme: “Capital City Cycling Championship” the championship and Mass rally will start and end at the Eagle Square on the 14th June, 2025.
The Minister disclosed that, the events are laudable and has the objectives of creating a platform for loud cycling advocacy and public awareness with a view to drawing attention to cycling for transport, sports and recreation.
The programme he said is established as a veritable competitive cycling sporting event. It provides avenue for discovering young talents that will make the nation proud, generate employment and engage youths away from the prevailing social vices and the “Japa” syndrome (youths going to Europe in search of “better life”).
It is to create avenue for collaborations for marking the World Bicycle Day event each year in Nigeria.
The Ministry he said, identifies with this commendable initiative as it promotes Non-Motorized Transportation (N.M.T) and decreases carbon emissions that leads to a more sustainable and greener environment for Nigerians.
The United Nations (UN) declared June 3rd every year as a UN World Bicycle Day during the 72 Plenary General Assembly on the 12th April, 2018 vide Resolution A/REG/72/272.
In view of the declaration, all member states which Nigeria is one are invited and encouraged to celebrate and promote awareness of the World Bicycle Day in Cross-Cutting development strategies (International, Regional and sub-national development policies and programmes).
Signed
Janet McDickson
Director, Press & Public Relations
