Abuja Midnight Run Draws 200 as Nigerians Celebrate 66 Y

More than 200 runners took to the streets of Abuja in the early hours of Thursday as part of an endurance race organised to commemorate Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The event, organised by the Trail Blazers Running Club and tagged the “Dusk Till Dawn Run”, began at midnight and featured a 66-kilometre challenge alongside an open-distance category for runners covering between 21km and 65km.

Participants ran along a 10-kilometre loop around Wuse 2, with organisers providing water stations and security support from the Ministry of Defence.

The club’s captain, Ifeanyi Okeke, said the endurance challenge was designed to reflect Nigeria’s journey through difficulties while maintaining hope for a better future.

According to Okeke, the event was also intended to encourage Nigerians, particularly young people, to remain resilient and take pride in their country.

He said the Abuja run was the second edition of the initiative, following a 65-kilometre race organised in 2025 to mark Nigeria’s 65th anniversary.

Okeke also appealed to the National Sports Commission to improve sporting infrastructure across the country, particularly the training facilities at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

He said the poor condition of the stadium’s running track makes it difficult for athletes and members of the running community to train effectively.

Long-distance runner and communications professional Seyifunmi Adebote described the turnout as a sign of the growing interest in running and endurance sports in Nigeria.

Adebote said more than 200 people participated in Abuja despite the overnight timing and rainfall, adding that the event demonstrated what could be achieved when people came together around a common cause.

He also disclosed that a similar 66-kilometre challenge in Lagos attracted about 400 runners.

Another participant, Rebecca Danjuma, who became the first female runner to complete the Abuja race, said taking part was her personal way of celebrating Nigeria and expressing her patriotism.

The organisers said the overnight challenge was open to runners of different abilities and was intended to promote fitness, togetherness and healthy living while marking the country’s independence.

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