The Bayelsa Government has commenced the process of building a world-class Polo Club as part of efforts to promote tourism and leisure in the state, Gov. Seriake Dickson has said.
He said in Yenagoa on Tuesday that government’s desire to convert the Gloryland Castle to a world-class hotel was borne out of the need to create a conducive environment for investors.
“We are very hopeful that investors will soon be trooping into the state for business, as well as generate more revenue,’’ Dickson said while speaking at the facility’s ground-breaking ceremony near the Gloryland Castle in Government House.
The governor said the project, when completed, would serve as a sporting facility and also help to drive the development of the tourism sub-sector.
He said the present administration in the state was poised to build a new Bayelsa through sports, tourism, peace, wealth and job creation.
According to Dickson, his administration attaches great importance to sports and tourism because they both have the capacity to create wealth and labour.
“Not only that, both sports and tourism strengthens bonds of friendship among individuals and groups,’’ he said.
The governor said the conversion would further generate more revenue for Bayelsa and boost its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
He also expressed government’s readiness to partner the Nigeria Polo Association (NPA) to hold the First Bayelsa Polo Tournament.
The governor said the present administration would leave no stone unturned to make Bayelsa the safest state in the country.
In his remarks, the NPA President, Mr Francis Ogboro, assured the governor of NPA’s preparedness to collaborate with the state government.
“This will help to ensure that the game of polo is fully entrenched in the sporting and tourism calendar of the state,’’ he said.
On completion of the polo club project, Oboro said the association would not only participate in its commissioning but also inaugurate the governor as the first member of the club in the state.
Also speaking, a representative of the Managing Director of the contracting firm, NHD Interbiz Project Limited, Alhaji Nasiru Danu, said the Bayelsa State Polo Club project was expected to be completed within 90 days.
The Managing Director said that the club would occupy an area of land spanning about 9.8 hectares.
He said the facility would consist of a standard club house, playing field, and horse stables as well as grooms quarters.
The ceremony also witnessed the presentation of a book entitled “The Great Polo Clubs of the World’’ and the association’s compendium.
It contains the history of the game, names of the clubs and their members in the country.
In an interview with newsmen, the Commissioner for Sports Development, Chief Mitema Obordor, implored youths of the state to shun cultism.
He urged them to make good use of the various sporting facilities and programmes in the state.(NAN)