Mr Sola Ayepeku, Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), on Friday assured motorists and commuters that there would be better traffic management during the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon on Saturday.
Ayepeku gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the Ayodeji Tinubu Merit Award and Media Briefing.
The media briefing to herald the 2020 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon was held at the Omolade Okoya Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
NAN reports that the 5th edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon will take place on Saturday, Feb. 8 and will run through, National Stadium to Ikorodu road, through Oworonshoki Expressway to Third Mainland Bridge.
The runners will go through part of Lagos Island and then end at the Lagos City Atlantic.
Ayepeku said that adequate measures had been put in place to ensure that the roads were open to motorists on time.
“We have learnt a lot from the previous edition. What we know is that the marathon holds a special place in the hearts of many Lagosians and so likewise the government.
“Lessons learnt in the previous edition guide us to make the marathon more successful and better than the previous one.
“In view of this, we have mapped out an arrangement, in making sure that the traffic is better managed by the combined team of road marshals, and less delay for the commuters.
“What we have decided is that the roads will not be cordoned off, for the entire duration of the race, to allow people to get to their destinations, “he said.
Ayepeku said that the cordoned roads for the race would be opened to motorists as soon as the athletes leave the spot adding that the route had been well marked.
“We have developed an easier way for the motorists because as soon as the athletes leave one spot, the roads will be opened to the motorists for use.
“The roads will be opened in sections; one after the other, as soon as the athletes are leaving the spot; this will make the roads accessible for motorists to use.
“With the current arrangement, we would have reduced the congestion on the roads to the barest minimum.
“Also, we now have an improved security arrangement for the race and all I can wish Lagosians, is a happy marathon, ” he said.
