Emmanuel Nicholas Okokon AS JONATHAN INAUGURATES IBOM INTERNATIONAL STADIUM By Emmanuel Nicholas Since her creation in 1987, it is trite to say that Akwa Ibom State has not benefited from any significant economic boom through national or international sporting activities hosted by the Nigerian Government. The apparent limitation has been a gross lack of facilities in hosting such sporting activities. The major sporting edifice in the state, the Uyo township stadium before Governor Godswill Akpabio did not even have a sitting facility or have an internationally acceptable grassing to host football events as the only activity which the township stadium was known for hosting was the Mobil track and field games. But with the advent of the Akpabio administration, the stadium experienced a face lift, the terraces were fixed and the state box was upgraded to an appreciable standard. The quality of the field and the dressing rooms has improved, likewise the track and field facilities. As a man of vision, Governor Akpabio stepped on the plate knowing the sports sector in the State had suffered from perennial economic deprivation. As a result of the absence of funding in the sector, the State was never considered in the past to host important tournaments because lack of good sporting facilities. To make the difference, Governor Akpabio deemed it fit to propose the building of an Olympic quality and sized stadium in the State to avert such economic yielding deficiency. In many countries of the world, Governments spend large amounts of public money to lure sporting events or host teams to their domain. This chapter begins an exploration of public policy decisions regarding investments in sports by laying a foundation that focuses on the economic impacts of stadiums, teams, and events. This focus provides an essential grounding for the evaluation of public investment decisions that are often framed in the context of economic development policy. And this has turn around the fortunes of many countries and private entrepreneurs who are involved in such investment around the world. The expenditure of public money on sport facilities and events is an international phenomenon that occurs at every level of government. The government of Portugal spent $732 million to host Euro 2004, the European soccer championship Public money paid for the construction of seven new stadiums in a country about the size of the state of Indiana. Portugal’s spending paled in comparison with the cost associated with the 2002 World Cup, co-hosted by South Korea and Japan. To prepare for the event, various Japanese localities built 7 new stadiums and renovated 3 others at a cost of $4.5 billion. South Korea spent $2 billion on 10 new facilities (Struck, 2002). Olympic spending dwarfs even these figures. The Greek government spent $12.8 billion to hold the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, and the Chinese government invested over $43 billion for the Beijing Games in 2008 . Cities take on construction projects long before they are awarded host status. Public spending on the 2002 Salt Lake City Games began in 1990 when a portion of state and local sales tax revenue was diverted to fund construction of bobsled, luge, speed skating, and ski jump facilities. Salt Lake City was not awarded the 2002 Games until 1995 (Burbank et al., 2001). The Los Angeles Coliseum (built in 1923), Chicago’s Soldier Field (1924), and Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium (1931) were all built with public money, Los Angeles did successfully attract the 1932 Games.) These facilities all eventually played host to professional baseball or football teams. Recent spending on stadiums for top-level professional teams has generated a great deal of attention. Between 2000 and 2009, 31 major-league stadiums and arenas opened across urban America at a public cost of approximately $8 billion. And in measuring the indices of profits and job creation, let’s take the China Olympics for a case study, The total spending of the Beijing Olympics is on par with that of the 2004 Athens Games. We’re able to exceed the original target as the sponsors were so good,” said Jiang, “the Games made a profit of at least $ 16 million USD after deducting $ 1.609 bn USD of spending from the income of $ 1.625 bn USD.” And created jobs for over a million people. After the event the stadium’s annual income stands at 11 million USD and the jobs provided stood at six hundred thousand. The Akwa Ibom State international Stadium has 36 exits and that the main bowl capable of draining out flood water 20 minutes after a heavy downpour. The main turf made of natural grass to conform with international standards, since artificial pitch is not desirable or acceptable. The Akwa Ibom international sized stadium is with a sitting capacity of 30,000 and costs 16 billion naira and will provide jobs to five thousand people. This stadium complex sits upon a massive 32 hectares of land. The main bowl consist of a 4-tier terrace seating arrangement, all covered, there is two parking lots and access; VIP and bus parking areas, VIP access and public access, coffee-shops, shops, restaurants and banquet-hall. As well as eight-lane 400metres standard track including complete athletics facilities in the segment of the field. Coming in three levels, the grand stand area will accommodate the Very Very Important Person (VVIP) and Very Important Person (VIP) Lounges. Other facilities within the Grand Stand Area, especially level 1 are team changing rooms, collective changes rooms, offices, meeting room for team meetings, administrative and technical services as well as covered parking spaces. Essentially, the level also accommodates a natural ventilated entrance lobby for VVIP guest while Level II within the grand area accommodates the VVIP reception area viewing lounges, catering service and conveniences. While level III is dedicated for public spectators of grand stand west and their respective service facilities. In the levels, there are also provisions for entrances to the East Stand and curves. The concourses include toilets, first aid stations and stairs to the upper levels. There are kiosks for spectators’ food and beverage facilities, facilities for the spectators for the upper tier seating including toilets and kiosks as well as a service concourse to the upper tier seating. The stadium enclosed by a white triangular shaped out skin that wraps around the entire stands area made of acrylic glass. The façade of the Grand Stand, which is also of acrylic glass, are of vertical panels. During matches or event nights, the façade of the Grand Stand will be illuminated in various colours. Governor Akpabio says the stadium will be commission on 7th November in 2014. The Olympic sized Stadium present to sport lovers a place to relish live international tournaments. And henceforth, anytime any tournament will be hosted by the Nigerian Nation, Akwa Ibom State will not be deprived the benefits and money that such events will bring to Nigeria , already the Confederation of African Football (CAF), have confirmed that the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Nigeria and South Africa, will be played at the new Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo. A representative of the footbal body, was in Nigeria to conduct a tour of the facilities at the recently completed stadium and has given it a pass mark. CAF delegated Mr. Fred Crentsil, the vice-president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), to inspect the facility and he left impressed. “You guys have a wonderful facility here. It is one of the best I have seen anywhere around Africa and elsewhere. It is of the same standard and mould as Soccer City [in Johannesburg albeit] with a lower capacity,” Crentsil said in Uyo on Thursday. “I am particularly amazed that there are provisions for the physically –challenged persons. Everything is taken care of here. I am hugely impressed.” Apart from the Economic boom through sporting activities, the Stadia will also provide arena for human empowerment through sport development, as youngsters will be discovered in different sectors of Sport and become professionals, earning a living from their talents. Apart from the creation of over five thousand jobs for daily staffers, the stadium will provide two hundred thousand jobs during major tournaments. The stadium is constructed with a left over space for periodic expansion, the foundation of the site can be expand to sixty thousand sitting capacity, so every others department of the stadium can be expanded to double their capacity. Governor Akpabio’s tag team designed this stadium with deep insight and vision, leaving room for expansion as it is the international best practice. In all, a project as massive as the Akwa Ibom Olympic Stadium is notoriously difficult to measure its economic benefits especially if one views it in terms of very simple equations responding to specific challenges. A vivid illustration is like viewing a new road that connects an industrial development to a new port. It would be hard to justify the efficacy of the project measured simply by time saved in traffic. But take a wider view of increased productivity, exports and jobs, and it becomes clear that such a road actually provides exceptional value. Governor Akpabio has set agenda of economic prioritisation. He knows that building infrastructure will strengthen and increase the economy of the State likewise provide jobs and yield more revenues to the State through direct and indirect taxation. The Akwa Ibom International Stadium is one of such infrastructure, which will bring about the economic rejuvenations of the economy in the State and empower the people through directs and talent creations. It is indeed a laudable development. As the President Jonathan inaugurates the Stadium on Saturday being 7th of November 2014, it is worthy to note, that Chief Dr Godswill Akpabio is leaving Akwa Ibom State better than he met it in 2007, with speaking infrastructures that will make his name never forgotten in the annals of history.
Posted on: Mon, 03 Nov 2014 09:24:08 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015