The second edition of the Armed Forces and Security Agencies 21 Kilometer Half Marathon Championship featuring 180 participants from eleven (11) security agencies will hold on Saturday 30th June 2018 in Abuja.
The eleven participating agencies are the Nigerian Army, Navy, Airforce, Police, Nigeria Immigration Service, Customs, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Fire Service, Federal Road safety Corps, VIO.
According to the Chairman, Local Organizing Committee of the sporting event, Major General Sardauna John Davies (rtd), each security agency would register 18 runners for the marathon made up of 10 males and 8 females.
He said prizes would be presented to winners in individual categories and team’s category adding the cash prize for winners which he did not name has been jerked up from that of 2017 in all categories.
Gen. Davies said the 21 kilometer race will kick-off at Dei-Dei along the Abuja Kaduna highway and end at the Aguyi Ironsi Cantonment in Asokoro district adding that the Special Guest of Honour for the event will be the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
Recalling that the maiden edition of the marathon event was held on 29th April 2017, Davies said the race which is the initiative of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin is aimed at creating oneness and togetherness among the military, Para-military and other security agencies in the country.
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He said, “The purpose of the joint race was initiated by the Chief of Defence Staff to unite all the members of the security agencies, have cohesion among the armed forces and ensure they work towards the same objective of peace and security.
He said that prior to the kick-off of the race on Saturday, the LOC which has all Directors of Sports of the various security agencies and the Athletics Federation of Nigeria as members, had embarked of consultative and advocacy visits to the agencies towards educating them on the benefits of working in unity.
Gen. Davies said most of the runners would be drawn from the lower echelon of the various security agencies adding that since most of the tension and crises among security agencies mostly emanate from the cadre, the sporting interaction will ease tension among the lower ranked officers.
While noting that there will be live coverage of the race by the Nigerian Television Authority, General Davies said the theme of the 2018 event is entitled “Racing to Bond”.
Commending the Chief of Defence Staff and the Services for providing the logistics towards ensuring a successful competition, Davies said, “We have been able to plan this competition to conform to international Marathon standards. Now it is recognized by the World Marathon Body.”
It would be recalled that the 2017 event was won by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The race is expected to commence by 6 am.
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