Lagos announces traffic diversion for 2024 City Marathon

The Lagos State Government has announced the traffic diversion along major roads for the upcoming city marathon scheduled for February 10.

The 2024 Lagos City Marathon will be the 9th edition of the event, hosting a 42-kilometre race for elite athletes and a 10-kilometre run for regular people.

The 42-kilometre race is scheduled to start by 6:30 am at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, while the 10-kilometre commences at Grace Garden Events Place, Bisola Durosinmi Etti, Lekki Phase, before they both terminate at Eko Atlantic by noon.

In a travel advisory released on Friday, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, the state’s commissioner for transportation, said some roads will be temporarily shut to motorists between 5 am and 2 pm for the race.

The affected routes are Funsho Williams Avenue from Stadium, Surulere, Ikorodu Road to Anthony, and Gbagada to Third Mainland Bridge.

“Others are Third Mainland Bridge (inbound and outbound), Dolphin Road to Alfred Rewane Road, Falomo roundabout to Bourdillon Road, Lekki Bridge to Freedom Way, Akin-Adesola to Ahmadu Bello Way,” he said.

Osiyemi said the alternative routes available during the marathon are: Apongbon Bridge inwards Eko Bridge through Costain Roundabout, Iponri and Bode Thomas for a desired destination or utilise Eko Bridge through Costain Roundabout and Apapa Road to link Oyingbo/Jebba to access Herbert Macaulay for a desired destination.

“Motorists can equally go through Victoria Island to link Independence Bridge and CMS bridge to access Apongbon inwards Ijora-Olopa to Iddo and Oyingbo to connect Herbert Macaulay Road to continue their journeys,” the commissioner said.

“For motorists trying to navigate the Third Mainland Bridge, the bridge will not be available to motorists from 12.00 tonight till the end of the marathon”.

Osiyemi added that all outbound journeys from Ikorodu Road to Funsho Williams Avenue en route to Lagos Island would be exempted from the diversion.

He added that officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) would be deployed to the diversion points for seamless traffic flow and safety of motorists.

The winners of the 42-kilometre race for both men and women will go home with $50,000 each.

Edwin Kibet Koech of Kenya won the last edition of the race alongside Alemenseh Guta of Ethiopia, who was the first woman to cross the finish line.