The Lagos State Government has announced a comprehensive traffic diversion and movement restriction plan ahead of the 2026 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon scheduled for Saturday, February 14, 2026.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the measures were designed to ensure the smooth conduct of the annual international marathon, which will feature both the 42-kilometre full marathon and the 10-kilometre race.
According to the statement, the 42-kilometre race will commence at Ahmadu Bello Way, by the MRS Filling Station, and run through the Coastal Road, which will serve as the finish point.
“The First, 42-kilometre race, will commence at Ahmadu Bello (by MRS Gas Station) route and run through the entire stretch of the Coastal Road, which is the end point of the race,” Osiyemi said.
He added that the 10-kilometre race would begin at Durosimi Etti Street in Lekki Phase 1 and proceed through Ozumba Mbadiwe, Bishop Oluwole, Akin Adesola and Sanusi Fafunwa, which will serve as the finish point.
“The Second, 10-kilometre race, will cover Durosimi Etti (Lekki Phase 1), the starting point and run through Ozumba Mbadiwe to Bishop Oluwole to Akin Adesola and Sanusi Fafunwa, which is the end point,” he stated.
Osiyemi said that in line with the traffic management plan, all affected adjoining roads, junctions and intersections along the race corridors would be blocked from 12.00 am to 12.30 pm on Saturday, February 14, 2026, noting that roads would be opened intermittently as the race progresses.
“All affected adjoining roads will be manned by LASTMA and other security agencies to prevent other road users’ access to the main race corridor,” the commissioner said.
He reassured residents that traffic management officials would be strategically positioned to guide motorists and urged residents to plan ahead by using alternative routes and other modes of transportation.
“Motorists are implored to be patient as the partial closure is part of the traffic management plans for the 11th Edition of the Access Bank Lagos City Marathon Race 2026,” Osiyemi added.
The Access Bank Lagos City Marathon, now in its 11th edition, is one of Africa’s largest road races and attracts elite and amateur runners from Nigeria and abroad.
The annual event has grown into a major international sporting and tourism fixture, drawing tens of thousands of participants and spectators to Lagos.
Because the race passes through key commercial and residential corridors on Lagos Island and Lekki, the state government typically imposes partial road closures and deploys officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), the police and other security agencies to manage traffic and ensure safety.
The marathon is part of Lagos’ broader strategy to promote sports tourism, urban branding and economic activity, although it often triggers traffic disruptions that require extensive public advisories.
