By: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
The All Progressives’ Congress (APC), Senator Bassey Otu has promised to implement the National Sports Industry Policy ( NSIP).
The policy was signed by President Mohammadu Buhari last year.
Otu made the promise at the U. J.Esuene Stadium at the Offiong Edem, Table Tennis Academy Calabar Cross River State during an interactive session with stakeholders on Sports development..
“My Administration will stop our athletes from looking for greener pastures. We will give sports men and women grant, Cross River will never be the same again”.
According to him “we are ready to grant tax incentives and waivers to would be investor’s in and outside the state”.
Furthermore, Otu said “we will run a robust business model that will turn around our economy within the next few months in office.”
He said his administration if elected will deliver a new Calabar Rover’s and Pelican star, both are the state teams.
The NSIP policy document is aimed at ensuring that sports play a prominent role as an instrument of national unity and cohesion.
Some of the policy document include, tax exemption and rebate for a period of five years, for investor’s in the value chain of sports, land provision and waiver for certain fees on land meant for sports, single digit loan interest, rate for cooperate organization and private individuals investing in sports value chain among others.
There were reactions from Rovers FC Management, Pelican Stars, Cross River State Football Association, Patience Okon, captain of Team Cross River, Chairman of Sports Writers Association (SWAN) Coaches and the state Commissioner for Sports, and Chairman of the Commission Emma Elom their challenges and the way forward among others during the meeting.
