The governor made this known on Saturday during the 2021 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon.

Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, said the Marathon should be encouraged as it was a way of keeping healthy.

He noted that the marathon started six years ago and had helped in promoting tourism and state development, adding that the Lagos City Marathon was important to everyone and there was need to continue.

The governor urged the people of Lagos to aspire to do better in the course of the race, as participating in the marathon required a lot of dedication.

While assessing the marathon’s compliance to the COVID-19 protocol, Sanwo-Olu said the event was a success, noting that the event should have taken place before now.

“The race which started at 6:30 a.m. from the National Stadium, Surulere and finishing point at Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island Lagos, had 300 expected participants, 85 International Elites and 105 Nigerian Elites.

Highlight of the marathon was the emergence of Emmanuel Naibei, a Kenyan at first position, while Daresa Geleta and Demiso Legese Gudeta both Ethiopians, taking second and third positions, respectively, in the male category.

In the female category, Meseret Dinke an Ethiopian emerged as first, with Istifanus Peter Mahan emerging as the first Nigerian to finish the race.

In his remarks, the Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc., Herbert Wigwe, said the Lagos City Marathon had witnessed over 50,000 participants from different African countries annually.

He noted that in comparison to other years, the 2021 edition of the marathon had the lowest turnout of 300 participants.

Wigwe said the low turnout was not because of reduced interest but the need to follow strict COVID-19 protocols to ensure safety of all attendees.

“We are compelled to maintain the social distancing regulations in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, “he said.

Wigwe said the current breakthrough in science had made the organisation hopeful, adding that 2022 would have more people returning to the tracks.

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The race, which kicked off in the early hours of Saturday at the National Stadium, Surulere, took participants through the Lekki roundabout by the Ikoyi-Lekki Link bridge up to the Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, which was the finishing point.

In the men’s category, Kenya’s David Barmasai Tumo came first after breaking the Marathon’s record finishing after two hours, ten minutes and twenty three seconds at the 5th Edition of the Marathon, while Debeko Dakamo and Paul Chege came second and third respectively.

Also, Kenya’s Cherop Sharon Jemutai became the first female to cross to finish line, while Kebene Urisa came second and Tanui Jekporir emerged third in the female category.

The first, second and third positions went home with the cash prizes of $50,000; $40,000 and $30,000 respectively, courtesy the headline sponsor of the race, Access Bank.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, while commending the organisers said the Marathon had been able to boost the tourism potential of the State, promising that few years down the line, it would be a major event on the global marathon race calendar.

The Governor who joined the race at Marina pledged his administration’s continued effort at boosting sports and tourism in the State, adding that it is the beginning of his tourism agenda.

He said: “We want to put Lagos City Marathon on the global marathon calendar and we are on our way there. Very soon, it will become a marathon that athletes from every part of the world will come and join us. Today’s event is the beginning of our administration’s tourism agenda.

“We want Lagos to remain on the tourism master plan of athletes worldwide, we want marathon to also become part of us because we all want to live a healthy life. We want it to be a work and play environment, we want to keep fit and we want to make healthy running a way of life for all of us so that we can reduce sicknesses amongst ourselves.

He added that “But more importantly, we can have a communion where family members both young and old can come together, have fun, do great exercise and enjoy themselves and also make money out of it.”

The Managing Director, Access Bank, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for his unwavering support and cooperation before and during the event.

He reiterated that the bank will continually impact communities they serve through “eliminating environmental and economic issues, as well as investing in activities that have strong impact on the social structure of these communities.”

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Gyan emerged as the first Nigerian male and Deborah Pam first Nigerian female to reach the finishing line.

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A statement issued on Wednesday by the Authority stated that the event will kick-off at 6 a.m from the National Stadium, Surulere and terminate at Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, thus necessitating traffic diversion.

The release advised motorists and commercial vehicles to use alternative routes as listed below:

· From Eko Bridge, motorists shall be diverted through Costain to connect Ebute-Metta, Orile, Nigerian Breweries and Bode Thomas through Apapa Road (now Moshood Abiola Way).

· From Alaka Estate, motorists shall be diverted through Iponri or Iponri Estate.

· Motorists from Masha inward journey to Stadium shall be diverted to Shitta Roundabout for onward movement through Falolu and Adeniran Ogunsanya Roads to their various destinations.

· Motorists from Apapa/Orile-Iganmu to Funsho Williams shall be diverted through Apapa Road to continue their journey.

· On Ikorodu Road, traffic from Ojota inwards Fadeyi, Funsho Williams is allowed; there will be a restriction for motorists who want to link Gbagada through Town Planning Way, Ilupeju to Third Mainland Bridge (Marathon Route).

· From Apapa – Oshodi Expressway (i.e from Mile 2) motorists shall be diverted through BOC Gases/Armed Forces Resettlement Center on the service lane through Agege Motor Road. Traffic will also be diverted through Town Planning Way before Anthony – Oke. (Note that Gbagada inward 3rd Mainland Bridge will be closed to traffic from Anthony – Oke).

· From Old Toll Gate to Alapere, Ogudu, motorists shall be diverted through Gbagada, Oworonshoki-Oshodi-Apapa Expressway and navigate their journey to destinations.

· From Ajah to Ozumba Mbadiwe Road through Lekki, traffic shall be diverted through Admiralty Way, Lekki Phase I.

· Motorists shall be diverted through Alexandra Road from Cable Bridge while Bourdillion Road will be temporarily closed to traffic.

· From Awolowo Road, motorists shall be diverted through Falomo Bridge to connect Ozumba Mbadiwe Road while Falomo Roundabout inwards Bourdillion will be temporarily closed and Akin Adesola Street inwards Bar Beach will also be temporarily closed to traffic.

· From Bonny Camp to Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, traffic shall be diverted through Old Mr. Biggs Junction to Kofo Abayomi Street.

The release stated that all adjoining streets and feeder roads to the dedicated routes of the race would be temporarily closed to ensure the safety and security of participants.

It also implored Lagosians plying the affected routes to exercise patience and obey Traffic Management officials deployed to the identified routes for a successful exercise.

TMS/OS/TO

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Governor Ambode, who stated this at Lagos House in Ikeja while addressing a world press conference on the marathon, said necessary logistics have been put in place to make the event hugely successful, and as well promote the tourism potentials of the State.

The Governor said about 33, 753 runners including 65 elite marathoners from different parts of the world and over 100 local elite runners participated in the 2016 edition held on February 6 this year, while the marathon was adjudged as one of the best in the world.

He said the government was working to ensure that the 2017 edition of the Lagos City Marathon billed to hold on Saturday, February 11, 2017 would see a major improvement compared to the maiden edition.

Governor Ambode said that as a result of the success of the maiden edition, several individuals and corporate organisations have contacted the organisers of the Marathon to partner towards ensuring a successful tourney, adding that it would go a long way to engage and empower thousands of Lagosians in various sectors.

The Governor said that the 2017 edition, would also feature the top ten men and women marathoners in the world, who would also be joined by many gold label, silver label and bronze label marathoners from different parts of the world.

He said the appearance fees for gold label runners is $50,000, silver label $20,000 and bronze label $10,000, adding that invited local and foreign elite runners would be paid 50 per cent of their appearance fee now and balance up when they arrive Lagos for the tourney.

Winner of the 2017 Lagos City Marathon, according to the Governor would also go home with a cash prize of $50,000, while second and third place winners will smile home with $40,000 and $30,000 respectively.

“The Lagos City Marathon is presently ranked 68th in the world, but our desire is to make it the top ten in the world and that is what we are working on with the next episode of the event.

“Unlike the one held on February 6 this year, where we had over 30,000 athletes who participated, we are targeting a minimum of 50,000 runners who will take the city of Lagos by storm and put the city on the world map for coming up with such a huge event.

“We look forward to something exciting happening in Lagos. We are going to use sports as a vehicle to help develop our youths and when you talk about youth development you have to talk about recreational sports, about how you mentally activate younger ones and we just think that this marathon is one of those vehicles that we should use to galvanise sports in younger ones and even Lagosians at large,” Governor Ambode said.

The Governor also expressed optimism that the success of the first edition and efforts to make next year’s edition bigger, the Lagos City Marathon would soon be labeled by the IAAF.

“We may get the CAA label before February 11, 2017; this will be another feat. We have put the necessary machinery in place to have a more elaborate start and a grand finish for this edition. There will also be entertainment at the finish for runners and spectators,” he said.

The Governor also added that for the 2017 edition, plans have been put in place to accommodate volunteers who would work hand in hand to make the event a success, adding that every volunteer would get a certificate signed by him and their names will be in Lagos State data base for volunteers.

He said that the State Government was working with other partners to address the challenges and hiccups recorded in the first edition of the Marathon, assuring that he would personally supervise the logistics required for the event.

“Route education plan will be released early so that Lagosians can plan their movement on race day. There will also be live transmission for the local and global audience. There will be clearer and bolder kilometer marking along the route. Our target is to also make Lagosians proud of this event and make them look forward to it every year,” the Governor said.

On his part, Herbert Wigwe, Managing Director of Access Bank, the major partners of the Lagos City Marathon, expressed optimism that the 2017 edition of the race would be bigger and better.

He said Access Bank was glad to partner with Lagos State, noting that the success of the first edition did not only showcase Lagos to be an avenue for sports development, but also for the growth of tourism and youth development.

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