Access Bank Lagos City Marathon: AFN President Commends Organisers

The Lagos state sports commission chairman, Mr. Deji Tinubu, has said that all hands are on deck to ensure that the maiden edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon become a success.

He said this on Tuesday at the press conference which will herald

February 6 full marathon, which will start at the national stadium, Surulere will end at the Eko Atlantic City.

Meanwhile, the organisers have promised first 20 Nigerians to reach finish line a sum of one million naira each, while the winner and the first and second runners up will cart away thousands of dollars.

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria president, Solomon Ogba, has also urged other state governors to emulate Lagos state to discover athletes that will represent Nigeria.  

"Our men have been working very hard to make sure the marathon is a success. We have obtained the accreditation of the confederation of African Athletic and the next few days, we shall get of other international body."

'"This puts to rest any assertion that this marathon is not legitimate. We have over 70 thousand forms and they can be obtained. On the following places; Teslim Balogun stadium,  office of the head of service,  state secretariats, Unilag, Lasu, Onikan stadium, Agege stadium and more."

"At the end of today, more outlets will be added. We intend to follow fully international rules governing marathon and as a result, we have set up a management team to play specific roles at the marathon. What they did yesterday was to go down to the marathon routes, the water point, medical point, injury points and all."

"The various agencies in charge have had meeting. This include, ministry of works and infrastructure, tourism art and culture, local government and community affair signages and advertisement agency, transportation and more.. And they are committed 101% to the success of the events."

"We've had a drive test of the marathon routes and we have the support of Lastma, local government traffic control and they will be on duty during and after the marathon."

"We have 30male athletes out of which 11 is among the top 20 runners in marathon in the world."

"Our aim is to get make sure that we have a label for the next addition and the only way we can ensure that is to attract elite athletes to the event."

"In the female, we have five international Athletes. We have some sponsors such as Access Bank, GSK and Eko Atlantic but we hope to rap up more in the coming days."

Solomon Ogba; "I was on vacation in the USA wit my family and when people new I was the AFN president, they started contacting me that they have heard of the lagos marathon and want to participate in the medical line as volunteers and this is a good development."

"The view so people outside Africa about Nigeria is still warp. They still think we live on stress. So they marathon affords people internationally to see how lagos look like and cast the nation in good light globally."

"The minister of sports has commended the lagos state governor on this initiative and I want to do same."

"Other governors should take a cue from lagos as this is laudable initiative."

"Lagos is like the USA as every state is represented in lagos."

"It is imperative to note that so many people are likely to take to running after the marathon and the state should be ready for the upsurge in that direction."

"Have always seen Athletics as the mother of all sports because other sports incorporate an aspect of Athletics in their action."

"It is either you are jumping or stretching."

"Also I think we should also look at the marathon in a new dimension. I.e it should be seen as an avenue for religious organisation to come in and preach christ."

"Christ is the centre point of our faith, so, we should publicise Jesus using the marathon."