A world class stadium for Bayelsa State

A world class stadium worth N35 billion is to be constructed alongside other sports facilities by Buoshishi Nigeria International Limited at Elebele, in the Ogbia local government area of Bayelsa State to promote sporting activities.

This was one of the major resolutions reached at the 40^th session of the Bayelsa State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Seriake Dickson in Government House, Yenagoa.

Briefing newsmen alongside the commissioner for Information and Orientation, Deacon Markson Fefegha, shortly after the meeting, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Lawrence Ehwrudjakpo explained that, Buoshishi International Company would solely fund the project, which is to be completed within 48 months.

According to Mr. Ehwrudjakpo, after the completion and verification of the twenty-five thousand, five hundred capacity stadium, the contracting firm would recoup its funds from the self-funding and revenue generating facility as it would be equipped with hotel and other facilities.

He said a team has also been set up comprising the Commissioner for Special Duties, as Chairman, while his counterparts in the ministries of Sports Development and Works and Infrastructure would serve as members in addition to inputs from consultants to ensure that the project is executed according to international standard.

The Works and Infrastructure ,commissioner said the Executive Council also deliberated on the need to make the Brass-Nembe and Ekeremor-Agge roads accessible as soon as possible in view of their strategic economic relevance to the state, especially as the communities are host to the Brass LNG, fertilizer company, deep sea port as well as a ship building yard proposed by Daewoo and Hyundai.

Shedding more light into the stadium project, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Fred Obuah highlighted indoor sports hall, country club, half Olympic size swimming pool, golf driving range, two practicing pitches, five hundred room hotel and suites, multi-purpose pitch, tennis courts and accommodation for staff that willman the various facilities that would be built.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Sports Development, Chief Ebikitin Diongoli, explained that, the project when completed would generate revenue for the state through sports tourism as matches from other states would be played in the stadium.

Chief Diongoli also remarked that, to ensure effective management of the international stadium towards boosting economic and tourism drive, the government was proposing a public private partnership and stated that, 10 of the state youths are currently in the United States for training towards the sports festival.

Responding to questions, on the rehabilitation of the Samson Siasia Stadium, the Sports Commissioner assured that, it would not be abandoned and also pointed out that, the government was opting for the cocoanut concept of grass pitch as compared to the natural one in view of the fact that it is expensive to maintain.