Nigeria’s largest purpose-built indoor arena is scheduled for completion by June 2028, with the $100 million Lagos Arena set to boost tourism, create jobs and position Lagos as a leading destination for international sports, business events and live entertainment in Africa.
The 12,000-capacity indoor arena, located beside The Palms Mall in Lekki, Lagos, is being developed as a multi-purpose venue for international conferences, exhibitions, sporting competitions, concerts, cultural events and business summits. The facility will become one of the largest indoor event centres in West Africa.
The project is being delivered through a public-private partnership led by the Persianas Group, with support from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Oak View Group, Live Nation Entertainment and other investment partners. With an estimated investment of $100 million, the development is expected to strengthen Lagos’ position as a major destination for international events and private investment.
Beyond hosting entertainment events, the arena is designed to support Meetings, Incentives, business summits, music festivals, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE), an important segment of the tourism industry that attracts business travellers, international delegates and corporate organisations. The facility is also expected to host major sporting tournaments, trade exhibitions and cultural programmes and live performances that will draw visitors from across Nigeria and abroad.
The development is projected to create more than 1,500 direct and indirect jobs across hospitality, event management, facility operations, retail, logistics, media production and other support services. Businesses operating around the Lekki corridor are also expected to benefit from increased commercial activities generated by the project.
With plans to host more than 200 events annually, the arena is expected to stimulate visitor spending, increase hotel occupancy, support restaurants and transportation services, and encourage more domestic and international travel into Lagos. The project is also expected to contribute to the growth of the state’s tourism and creative economy.
Designed by Turkish-based Yazgan Design Architecture, the arena will feature international-standard facilities, including retractable seating, modern hospitality spaces, parking facilities, a waterfront boardwalk and supporting infrastructure capable of hosting global sporting and business events.
The development reinforces Lagos’ ambition to become a regional leader in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry by creating infrastructure capable of attracting high-value business travellers, international conventions and major entertainment events.
