The foundation laying ceremony of ‘The Arena’, a world class sports and entertainment centre, has been performed in Lagos by the state governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Minister of Sports Development, Mr John Enoh.
The construction of the edifice has been hailed as one of the biggest moves to further boost the economy of the state, provide employment for young people, and further establish the state as the commercial nerve centre of the country.
Planned in the fashion of O2 Arena and X Arena, The Arena, Lagos, will have a capacity of 12,000 which would feature sports and other entertainment shows that are expected to facilitate Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
Speaking at the event yesterday, Sanwo-Olu promised to give every support the project needs to be completed on time, just as he praised the creative industry for the sheer audacity to put the country on the world’s stage.
According to him, “The creative industry story is a pride to us all. Here we have the talent, we have the boldness to take Nigeria to the world. The creative industry deserves an applause from us all.”
The governor said his government would ensure that the traffic of the area is rewired in such a way that it would accommodate the surge in transportation expected to increase by the time the project is completed in December 2025.
Also, the President of the Toronto Raptors, Mr Masai Ujuri, in his remarks said: “The Arena would turn the country around, turn Africa around,” while urging both private and public investors to support the project, which according to him, has the capacity to put Nigeria on the global map.
Mr Tayo Amusan, the brain behind the project, said: “The Arena is not just a venue, but it’s a symbol of Nigeria’s potential and creative spirit. We spend so much money on security. So the most amazing thing about this place for me is that all my customers will be safe. That’s really important.”
The Arena is a $100 million project that is set to become the ‘Global Home for Afrobeats’. The consortium that will deliver the project include “The Persianas Group, Live Nation, global sports and entertainment company, Oak View Group, among others.”
