History of Cycling in Nigeria

The story

How Nigerian cycling began

Cycling in Nigeria became an organised national sport in the year 1972 and has established over the years to be a major and award-winning game in Nigeria. It is among the oldest in terms of sporting activities and events in Nigeria. During the past years, the sport was used for leisure and other recreational activities.

The body responsible for Cycling is Nigeria Amateur Cycling Association, the association oversees the activities of the sports in Nigeria in the early 70s. This body supersedes and gains control over other bodies created in the four regions in Nigeria which is the Northern, Western, Mid-Western and Eastern regions.

It was introduced to the country as of the early days of colonialism and was not so common as many people do not own a bicycle and there weren’t sponsorship from the government to the sports federation.

Nigeria organized her first national Cycling championship on 18th to 24th of November 1973. The first coaching course of the sport was held in Kaduna.

The second was held at Ibadan and the third was at the University of Ife from 19th of August to September, 1976. The first recorded Cycling race was held in Lagos in the year 1962 and was organised by Raleigh. The race was a distance of 20 miles and was won by a young cyclist named J.J Umoh.

The pioneers and the federation

The first cyclist club to be established in Nigeria was Armstrong Cycling Club in Lagos State with Pa Sobaso as the founder and first chairman in the year 1956. Members of the club include Chief Kunle Oyero, Rev. Father Slattery as well as Prince T. O Alade.

The patron of the club then happens to be the first president of Nigeria Hon Nnamdi Azikiwe. In the year 1962, some skilful and talented youth joined the club such as cyclists named J.J Umoh, S.S Bassey, U.U Samuel and O.O Adeke.

Each state forms their Cycling Association known as state amateur Cycling after the creation of states from the then four regions. The body was now officially made the governing body to see to the development of Cycling in Nigeria. The national body, the Nigerian Amateur Cycling Association, is now known as the Cycling Federation of Nigeria.