Nilayo Sports Management says it is ready to deliver another masterpiece of marathon in the capital city. The declaration came from its Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Yetunde Olopade, as preparations for the PremiumTrust Bank Abuja City International Half Marathon entered the final stage with four days to go.
Olopade said “We are ready to deliver another masterpiece of marathon in the capital city,” .“We have done this before, and we understand what Abuja expects. Every detail has been checked, from the start line to the finish line, from the safety of the athletes to the experience of the spectators.”
Olopade added that the team is determined to raise the standard again this year.
She said “This is not just another race on the calendar. This is Abuja showing the world how a capital city hosts a world-class marathon. Our athletes will run on a fast, safe and beautiful course, and our fans will enjoy a spectacle worthy of the city,”.
That confidence is now visible across the capital. Warehouse doors opened before sunrise. Inside, stacks of race bibs, timing chips, branded vests and bottled water waited in neat rows. Outside, a truck was already being loaded with barriers. The final stage is quiet, methodical and relentless.
At the coordination centre, one table handles accreditation. Another handles medical cover. Another handles traffic management. Every name on the start list is being matched to a bib, a chip and a category. Every volunteer is being matched to a post, a shift and a supervisor.
Security planning has also tightened. Officers have walked the full route from the Old Parade Ground to the Velodrome at the MKO Abiola National Stadium. Junctions have been mapped. Diversion points have been agreed. Residents and motorists in Garki, Wuse and around the Stadium will receive final notices before race morning.
Medical teams have mapped their own race within the race. Ambulances will be stationed at strategic points. First responders will move on motorcycles through narrow stretches. Hydration points, placed at 2.5km intervals, will double as observation posts where officials can spot runners in distress early.
Timing is another quiet battle. Technicians are testing mats, chips and backup systems. A single missed split can distort a result, and elite athletes are chasing personal bests, prize money and qualification marks. The team wants zero excuses on race day.
Behind the logistics, the human side is building. Running clubs across Abuja are holding their last easy runs. Coaches are telling their athletes to sleep early and avoid anything new. School groups are rehearsing their cheers. A local band booked to perform near the finish line is holding its final rehearsal.
The city is also beginning to adjust. Shop owners near the route are stocking extra water and snacks. Hotels are confirming early breakfasts for runners. Photographers are scouting angles at the National Mosque, under the Shehu Shagari Bridge and inside the Stadium.
Organisers insist the goal is not just a clean race. They want a race that feels like Abuja. A race where a child watching at Area 1 Roundabout can imagine herself on the start line one day. A race where a visitor leaves with a story about the city, not just a medal.
Come November 14, the barriers will go up. The roads will close. The music will start. The warehouse will empty. And the work of months will be measured in hours, minutes and seconds.
