Traffic Diverted As Over 30,000 runners Compete for 10th Access Bank Lagos City Marathon

About 37,000 runners are expected to compete in the 10km and 42km races of the 2025 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon which holds on Saturday (today), according to the organisers.

The General Manager of the race and retired Nigerian long jumper, Yusuf Ali, noted that the figure was derived from the number of running kits distributed out of the over 60,000 runners who registered to take part.

The 42km race will commence at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, by 6:30am while the 10km marathon will start at the Grace Garden Event Centre in Lekki by 9:30am with both races terminating at Eko Atlantic City.

The race which started in 2016 enters its 10th year with a World Athletics gold label and the organisers have set their sights on getting the platinum label, thereby becoming the first marathon race in Africa to reach the status.

Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management – the organisers of the race – Yetunde Olopade, noted that the next decade will shape the marathon’s journey to becoming a global event.

“We are incredibly proud to have earned the gold label but we are not stopping here. We have set our sights on achieving the platinum label thereby making Lags home to the biggest and most prestigious marathon in Africa. This means a stronger position for Lagos and all our sponsors and partners,” Olopade said during the pre-race press conference in Lagos on Friday.

General Manager of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Lekan Fatodu, also said, “As a state, we are using this as an opportunity to rededicate our commitment to sporting excellence and to promoting and supporting initiatives that will not just foster unity but will also give our people the opportunity to be productive.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has announced a planned eight-hour road closure and traffic diversion for the motoring public along some identified routes for the race between 5am and 1pm.

A Race that Transcends the Finish Line
Since its inaugural run in 2016, the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon has evolved from a local initiative into a global phenomenon. Originally established by Access Bank in collaboration with the Lagos State Government to promote healthier lifestyles, the event has grown into a symbol of unity, progress, and economic vitality for both Lagos and Nigeria.