Indian National Arrives Lagos On Bicycle

An Indian national, Mr Somen Debnath, on Thursday said that
he arrived Lagos on bicycle after visiting 110 other countries in the last 11
years through same means. Debnath told the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN in Lagos
that Nigeria was among the 191 countries he would be visiting to promote Indian
culture. Aside that, the tour is also for another reason, hear him;

“The whole essence of my `Around the World Bicycle Tour’
programme is to promote Indian culture and raise global awareness on HIV/AIDS
through the education of young men and women worldwide. As a youth myself, I
strongly believe that youths in every community globally can make the much
desired change we all need. I am in Lagos to sensitise young Nigerians in
universities and colleges on what they should know about HIV/AIDS. So far in
the last 11 years, I have visited 111 countries including Nigeria on my
bicycle,’’ he said.

Debnath, a graduate of Zoology from the University of
Calcutta, India, said that it was imperative for young Nigerians to abstain
from unprotected sex, but to engage in safe sex by using condoms. He also
enjoined Nigerians not to stigmatise or discriminate against persons living
with HIV/AIDS, but to always show them love and care.

He, however, said that his tour had been fraught with dangers
and challenges. These include; being held captive by the Taliban in
Afghanistan, robbed six times in Central Asia to being beaten eight times by
skinheads.