Lagos State will welcome the Queen’s Baton on April 1, Chairman of the Main Organising Committee for the Queen’s Baton arrival in Nigeria, Mrs Hauwa Kulu-Akinyemi announced yesterday.

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos state

The Queen’s Baton Relay, similar to the Olympic Torch Relay, is a relay around the world held prior to the beginning of the Commonwealth Games. The Baton carries a message from the Head of the Commonwealth, currently Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen’s baton is on a 388-day relay covering more than 140,000 miles and will visit every 52 member states of the Commonwealth nation on its way to the Games, being hosted by the Australian Gold Coast in 2018.

“Mrs Kulu-Akinyemi said that the Queen’s Baton which arrives April 1 would also be handed to Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on April 3. Answering questions from news men, she said that adequate arrangement had been made by the MOC and the Lagos Sub seat to take care of security concerns as well as traffic concerns in the routes of the Baton relay. ‘’We’re expecting 5 officials to accompany the Baton to Nigeria’’, she noted.

Also answering questions, the Lagos sub-seat Chairman, Emmanuel Nweri said that former Nigerian athletes as well as Paralympians would be on hand to accord the Queen’s baton its traditional respect and partake in the baton exchange. As part of activities lined up, a city float ceremony with a relay pack of past Commonwealth athletes, Olympians and Paralympians will stage a parade from the National Stadium, Surulere through Western Avenue to Ojuelegba before heading back to the stadium.

The entourage would visit Pacelli school for the Blind and partially sighted and a visit to Heart of Gold Children’s Hospice in Surulere, pay a visit to NOC Partner School- Greensprings Schools in Lekki before visiting His Royal Majesty, Oba S.A Elegushi.

The delegation will depart the shores of Nigeria on the 5th of April to Kenya in continuation of the global tour.