Ibom Int’l Stadium to be commissioned Friday

BY EMMANUEL AKPAN 

All is now set for the inauguration of the magnificent 30,000 capacity Uyo International stadium on Friday 7th November, 2014 by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, president and Commander –in-Chief of the Federal Republic.

Addressing journalists at NUJ press centre on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Information and Communications Mr. Aniekan Umanah said, “Gentlemen, Akwa Ibom International Stadium is one of the land mark projects initiated and completed by the Administration of His Excellency, Chief Godswill Obot Akpabio, CON, Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State. It is a prominent item on the Uncommon Transformation bouquet of this government. The significance of the Stadium to the development of sports in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, and indeed Africa, justifies the elaborate arrangements made to mark its official commissioning.

Let me share with you brief insights into the edifice we are talking about here.

The stadium is a two-tiered structure that includes a 400m-running track for athletic events, and is the pilot part of Uyo Sports Park development. It sits on a-36.3 hectares of land and is enclosed by a white triangular-shaped outer covering that encircles the whole stands. Its geometry is developed on the basis of a typical layout for multi-purpose stadia, with an arena with running track, and under consideration of optimal viewing for such sports as football and athletics”.

Continuing, the Information commissioner maintained that, the International Stadium is constructed to seat, severally, a little more than 30,000 spectators for soccer or track and field events. While the Grand stand can comfortably accommodate about 7,500 spectators, including the VIP/VVIPs. Its East Stand and Curves have provision for approximately 22,500 people. The Governors’ Lounge is located in the Grand Stand on Level Two and has sitting capacity for between 30 and 40 VVIPs. Spaces to the left and right of the Governors’ Lounge are the VIP Lounges that can play host to 60 – 70 people. And on the seating platform of the Governors’ Lounge is provision for fixed seating for 97 VVIPs/VIPs. Level 0 of the edifice includes such athletes’ facilities as team changing units, collective changing units, referees’ dressing room, office and meeting rooms for team meetings, etc. At this level also are entrances to the East Stand Curves, toilets, first aid stations, stores and stairs to the upper levels, with the whole area rain/sun proof.

Level 1 provides dormitories for lower tier seating, kiosks, food, and beverage facilities. Level 2 is used for facilities of spectators of the upper seating, which includes toilets and kiosks. Level 3 is a service concourse for access to the upper tier seating. To ensure maximum safety of users of the facility, the access and exit system are in tandem with global safety canons and provide two separate emergency exits which allow evacuation in less than eight minutes.