Nigeria: NSC Acquires Altitude Camp in Jos

Olawale Ajimotokan

13 May 2011

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has strategically acquired a parcel of land in Kuru, Jos, with the aim to develop it to an academy for the training and development of Nigeria’s long distance runners.

The location, said to be about 1,318 metres, (about 4324 feet) above sea level, is regarded as one of Nigeria’s highest points and is suitable for altitudinal training.

Significantly, when the Jos camp becomes operational, it will be an addition to the existing Mambila Plateau as one of the special camps used by Nigerian long distance athletes for training.

An aide to the Sports Minister, Prof Taoheed Adedoja, disclosed Thursday that the minister, on a visit to the range last week, had directed for the immediate acquisition of the site from the Plateau State government who brought it from the residents 28 years ago.

Adedoja was said to have expressed concern that despite the potentials, the site had remained moribund all these years. He then reasoned that it could be put into use as an academy for the promotion of grassroots sports development where the country’s long distance runner can be groomed and trained.

The minister, who also doubles as the chairman of the NSC, noted the camp would be at the immediate disposal of the country’s long distance runners for the All Africa Games billed for Maputo in September, in addition to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Altitudinal training will enhance performance in sea level conditions by helping the athletes to acclimatise to the lower level of oxygen available in the atmosphere. With this special training, a lot of the changes that occur with acclimatisation improve the delivery of oxygen to the muscles as more supply of oxygen will lead to better performance.

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