Nigerian Man Set To Ride Bike From UK To Lagos

At least he's riding and not trekking and for a good cause. Omo Alokwe, a keen motorcyclist is set to ride from Land’s End to Lagos Nigeria, in November to raise funds for a humanitarian aid organisation, Medicine Sans Frontiers (MSF). 

The Nigerian born Business Change Analyst is taking on the challenge on his own and aims to raise £20,000 for MSF.

He will start from Land’s End and ride to Dover where he will travel on the Euro-tunnel to France and then onto Morocco and through Senegal, Mali and Togo before reaching Nigeria. 

In Nigeria, Mr Alokwe aims to break the world record for the longest motorcycle ride in a single country. Over 16 weeks, he will aim to cover 30,000 miles through the country, where he grew up. “I've always liked travelling and I wanted to do something different and really challenge myself,” said Mr Alokwe. “I've been riding motorbikes for 18 years.

Mr Alokwe said he has chosen to support MSF as it is not “politically or religiously-affiliated” and “just deals with human crises”.

“I've always admired the work of MSF for their selflessness. Anywhere there’s any problems in the world, they are there. They are one of the best organisations working in Africa.

“I've always wanted to do something like this so I thought I should come out of my comfort zone.”

To help with his fundraising efforts, Mr Alokwe is running a charity golf day at Surrey National Golf Club on August 22.

In a recent interview with MoreBikes editor, Alokwe explained more.

“Hello, I’m Omo Alokwe from London; a Business Change Analyst, golfer with a very dodgy swing, and a keen motorcyclist for close to 20 years. 

This November, I plan to make the journey from Land’s End (England’s southernmost tip) to Lagos (Nigeria’s westernmost tip), including riding round all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, thus breaking the World Record for the Longest Journey by Motorcycle in a Single Country – currently 22,065.47 miles, set in China by Zhang Ying Fa. 

"The adventure will cover 2 continents and 12 countries (England, France, Spain, Morocco, Western Sahara, Senegal, Mauritania, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin and Nigeria). Travelling to Lagos, then riding in and around Nigeria before riding home, I’m looking at doing around 40,000 miles in 16 weeks.

 The longest ride I have done to date was just under 1700 miles in four days, and in the company of a friend. This ride is nearly 25 times longer and I’ll be riding on my own. The mileage is quite frankly daunting, but I’m very excited at the same time. This will be a proper test of endurance for me, and I am so looking forward to it.

“It’s going to be exhilarating thanks to the different cultures, extremes of temperature, and of course the terrain that I will encounter on the trip (snow-capped Pyrenees, Sahara desert and tropical rain forests). My kit and motorcycle should be able to cope, and I’m currently researching the best options, as well as preparing myself both physically and mentally for the challenge. I've been going over maps, talking to other long distance bikers and attending bike shows in preparation for this epic journey.

“I’ll be using this opportunity to increase awareness and raise funds for Medicine San Frontiers (MSF), aiding the humanitarian work they do in more than 60 countries around the world, and their continuing efforts to curb the Ebola virus in West Africa.

 I will visit MSF sites along the route on the way to Nigeria," he said.  Good luck to him.