PICTURES: Inside the new Akwa Ibom Stadium in Uyo set to launch today

The Akwa Ibom State Government will on Friday inaugurate a 30,000-capacity Ibom International Stadium.

Those expected at the event are President Goodluck Jonathan and his Ghananian and Ivory Coast counterparts.

Night view

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Aniekan Umana, who said this in Uyo on Thursday, stated that the Ibom International Stadium will be one of the land mark projects initiated and completed by Godswill Obot Akpabio’s administration.

“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.

“It is constructed to seat 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,” he said.

He added that the stadium has two video boards with the screens placed under the roof of the curves at opposite angles (north and south).

He revealed that the running track has six irrigation taps to clean the tartan surface.