MTN People Police Marathon: Our athletes are ready - Bada

Niyi Alebiosu, Lagos - 14.07.2008

Nigeria’s Olympic 400 metres silver medallist and technical director of the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Mr. Sunday Bada has declared that over 52 professional marathoners and thousands other non-professional athletes within the rank and file of the Nigeria Police have registered for the MTN People Police Marathon.

The figure he says was collated from entries that came from all the police formations around the country.

“The policemen and women all over the country are so enthusiastic about the race. They have started planning and practising rigorously for the July 26 race in Abuja. In fact, that day to me is a special sporting day for us in the police. We are so ready, we would not allow our counterparts in the Army, Navy, Airforce, the paramilitary and the mass of civilians who have already submitted their entries for the race to come and steal the show,” Bada stated.

Giving reports on the preparations of the police so far for the race, Bada, who was recently appointed Divisional Officer for Lekki Police station in Lagos, declared further that, “we have extended invitations to the University community, Polytechnics and other tertiary institutions all over the country. We have invited the paramilitary, Navy, Army and the Airforce. We want the mass race to be all encompassing. And for the VIP race, you can be sure that all our top ranking police chiefs would be involved. They will be running alongside industry chiefs and other captains of industries from different sectors of the Nigerian economy.

“The race is not just about us, it is an harmonious bridge between the police and other Nigerians. A platform for virile relationship between the police and the Nigerian people so that we can work together to sensitise the nation in order to fight and reduce crime.”