The athletes at the starting point. Photo credit: Idowu Ogunleye

Taiwo Adelu

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode Saturday at exactly 7:00am flagged off the much awaited Access Bank Lagos City Marathon which will take the runners a distance of 42.195 kilometres.

According to the organisers, no fewer than 20,000 runners from Nigeria and some parts of the world are taking part in the race, where a total sum of N92 million will be won.

Female athletes are not left out either. Photo Credit: Idowu Ogunleye

Interestingly, the flag off point, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos was a beehive of activities early on Saturday where the marathoners have converged in readiness for the take off which will terminate at the Eko Atlantic City. There was heavy presence of security personnel to maintain orderliness.

As at the time of filling this report, Governor Ambode, who flagged the race in Surulere, is waiting for the marathoners at the Eko Atlantic City.

City cleaners at work too as the marathoners run past

The traffic situation caused by the marathon race is getting worse by the minutes. The government has announced prior to he day of the event restriction on the dedicated routes which the marathoners would pass from the National Stadium to Eko Atlantic City from 06:30-13: 00hrs.

The restriction is however taking its toll on Lagosians who have been trapped in traffic since morning. Even journalists who were at the starting point were also stranded finding it very difficult to link up with the end point on Lagos Island. They were complaining of the shoddy arrangement on the part of the organisers for not providing special transportation for the journalists

Some of the motorists who spoke on this development said they were not even aware that an event of this magnitude is taking place in Lagos despite the publicity in the last few days.
…more reports to follow