A Nigerian cyclist, Captain Olatunji Emmanuel Okedeyi, has begun a 10,000-kilometre journey from London to Lagos in a campaign aimed at raising awareness and support for the global fight against polio.
Gatekeepers News reports that the awareness ride, which started in London, United Kingdom, will see Okedeyi travel across 13 countries before arriving in Lagos on July 7, 2026. The initiative comes six years after Nigeria was officially declared free of wild poliovirus, a milestone health experts say must be protected through sustained immunisation and public awareness efforts.
According to reports, the cyclist will pass through France and Spain before entering Africa through Morocco. His route also includes Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo and Benin before reaching Nigeria.
Okedeyi said the expedition is designed to remind governments, health advocates and communities that the fight against polio is not yet over despite major progress recorded in recent years. He hopes the campaign will encourage stronger support for vaccination programmes and the protection of vulnerable children across underserved communities.
The journey is expected to cover difficult terrains and challenging weather conditions across two continents. Organisers said every kilometre of the ride represents a call for continued global action to ensure polio is completely eradicated. A fundraising handover ceremony linked to the campaign is scheduled for August 1 during Okedeyi’s investiture ceremony.
Public health experts have repeatedly warned that although Africa has been certified free of wild poliovirus, the disease remains a threat in some parts of the world, making continued vigilance and immunisation efforts essential.
