In a bid to ensure the health and safety of all runners and essential service workers amid the global COVID-19 pandemic, the title sponsors of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, Access Bank PLC has announced that the Lagos City Marathon will be held virtually for interested 10km runners this year.
The Marathon, scheduled for April 10, 2021 can only accommodate 300 runners in line with the guidelines provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO), World Athletics and the Lagos State Ministry of Health.
Speaking on the development, Access Bank’s Executive Director of Retail Banking, Victor Etuokwu said: “Our primary consideration is the health and safety of participants, attendees and staff that will be a part of the Lagos City Marathon. This is why we decided to have an exclusive virtual event – that allows participants from all over the world to run the race wherever they are.
While we regret that we can’t host the live 10km race and fanfare that have become synonymous with the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, we continue to stand with the other sponsors to preserve public health as we look forward to hosting a successful marathon. We implore all well-meaning Lagosians to please adhere to the movement guidelines put in place by the Lagos State Government to ensure that the Marathon fulfills its purpose of positively placing Lagos and indeed the whole of Africa on the global map,” he concluded.
Though audience participation may have changed, the organisers have also announced that the race route will largely remain the same. Runners will begin the race from the National Stadium, Surulere, opposite Teslim Balogun Stadium and finish at the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island.
Now in its sixth edition, the Silver – Labelled Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has featured over 200,000 registered athletes from over 12 participating countries collectively covering a distance of 42,000 kilometres.
Meanwhile, some parts of our mega city will be shut down for the safety of thousands of runners, hundreds of thousands of cheering fans and millions of Lagosians.
Find below ALTERNATIVE ROUTES that will ease the movement of Lagosians who might not be watching the marathon live television because they have urgent personal business to attend to and thousands who would want to join us at the finish where the best of Nigerian musicians and entertainers will be performing.
• All vehicles from Ikeja and environs headed to Victoria Island MUST go through Ikorodu Road
• All vehicles from Badagry, Mile 2, and environs going to Victoria Island MUST go through Apapa and Orile to link the Eko Bridge to Victoria Island
• Residents of Lagos Mainland, Surulere and environs MUST avoid Masha Area and the National Stadium but can link Victoria Island through Iponri/Iganmu, Eko Bridge then on to Victoria Island.
• Vehicles coming from Ibadan, Mowe and environs can link Victoria Island through Ojota, Ikorodu Road, Eko Bridge to Victoria Island.
• Vehicles from Okota MUST go through Mile 2 to Orile , Eko Bridge to Victoria Island
• From Sango-Otta going to Victoria Island MUST go through Mushin, Funso Williams Avenue (Western Avenue), Eko Bridge to Victoria Island
• Vehicles coming from Epe, Ajah, Lekki and environs must use the Alternative Route to Victoria Island
• Ikoyi residents going to the Mainland can use the Alfred Rewane (Kingsway Road) link to Osborne then to the Mainland
THE FOLLOWING ROADS WILL BE TOTALLY OR PARTIALLY CLOSED
a) Total closure of Third Mainland Bridge from 7.15 am to 2pm
b) Alaka Road Service lane will be closed from 5.45 am to 7.30 am
c) National Stadium to Ojuelegba, Dormanlong Bridge, Onipanu, Obanikoro, and Anthony will be closed from 6.45am to 9 am
d) From Anthony to Charly Boy Bus Stop to Oworonsoki will be closed from 7.15 am to 9 am
e) From Adekunle Junction linking the Third Mainland Bridge will be closed from 7.30 am to 2pm.
We thank the great people of Lagos for their cooperation and understanding.
