The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said it had concluded plans to host the maiden Access Bank Lagos City Marathon on Feb. 6. Mr Steve Ayorinde, the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, made the assertion at a media parley at the Press Centre in Alausa.

Ayorinde said that the ministries involved in the marathon are Health, Information, Environment, Transportation, Lagos State Safety Commission, Lagos Signage and Advertisement Agency.

Others are, the Ministries of Works, Tourism, Arts and Culture, Special Duties, Local Government and Community Affairs, Nigerian Army, Police and Air force. He said that security personnel, volunteers, medics would be placed at strategic points, adding that there would also be five marine boats.

“Medics, toilets and volunteers will be available at every 5km. Water station will be at every 2.5km till the finish point to cater for dehydration.

“Nutritional drink station like Lucozade Boost will be at every 5km. We are not going to forget the supporters, there will be stadia for participants and supporters,’’ he said. Ayorinde said that the state would organise the event yearly, adding that it would become bigger each year.

“It will be yearly, we hope it grows bigger in Nigeria, Africa and the world. We want it to be in the history of the world,’’ he said. He also said the event would be flagged off by Akinwunmi Ambode, the Governor of Lagos State and Sebastian Coe, the President, International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

Ayodeji Tinubu, the Commissioner for Sports and Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the race, expressed optimism that it would be a success, saying the state was ready in all aspect.

He said the race hoped to get a label by the IAAF, adding that the elite athletes, medics, volunteers conduct during the race would ensure it gained the label. He also expressed optimism that a lot of Nigerian athletes would try to emerge victorious.

Yusuf Alli, the General Manager of the race, said the transponders purchased by the organisers would ensure that cheating was curbed.

“This is the first time we will be using transponders. We know that some athletes might want to play smart by cutting corners. “The transponders will curb cheating because it is 97 per cent effective,’’ he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 42km marathon has its prize money as 500, 000 dollars. The second runner-up of the event will go home with 400,000 dollars, while the third place marathoner gets 300, 000 dollars.

The Nigerian that tops other local participants will receive N1 million, while the second place Nigerian gets N750, 000 and the third N500, 000. The race will commence by 7 a.m. at the National Stadium, Lagos and end at the Eko Atlantic.