March 15, (THEWILL) – The gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, has engaged the sports community in the State.
The engagement had stakeholders from state-owned teams including Rovers FC, Pelican stars, Cross River State Football Association, captain of team Cross River, Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Coaches, State Commissioner for Sports, as well as the Chairman of the State Sports Commission.
As part of the engagement, Otu promised to adopt the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) signed by President Mohammed Buhari in 2022.
Otu also promised to run a robust business model that will turn the economy around within the next few months in office, adding that his administration will deliver a new Calabar Rovers and Pelican star.
He added that when elected, his administration will stop state athletes from looking for greener pastures, “we will give sportsmen and women grants.”
He also promised the stakeholders that his government, in line with the NSIP policy, will grant tax incentives and waivers to would-be investors in and outside the state.
The NSIP policy document adopted by the President in 2022 is aimed at ensuring that sports play a prominent role as an instrument of national unity and cohesion.
Some of the policy documents include tax exemption and rebates for a period of five years, for investors in the value chain of sports and land provision.
Others include a waiver for certain fees on land meant for sports, single-digit loan interest, and rates for corporate organisations and private individuals investing in the sports value chain among others.
About the Author
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
