Cross River Governor, Bassey Otu
By PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
Ahead of the Gubernatorial elections on Saturday, the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Senator Bassey Otu, says if he’s elected he will adopt the National Sports Industry Policy ( NSIP) signed by President Muhammed Buhari last year.
Senator Otu said 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 according to him 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.
He stated this on Tuesday at the U. J.Esuene Stadium, Calabar during an interactive session with stakeholders on Sports development.
He said: “We will stopped our athletes from looking for greener pastures, we will give sports men and women grant, Cross River will never be the same again”
“We are ready to grant tax incentives and waivers to would be investor’s in and outside the state”
“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
There were reactions from Rovers FC. Management, Pelican star, 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, on their challenges and the way forward.
