Bayelsa State Government has commenced clearing of the 40-hectares parcel of land for the construction of a multi-purpose stadium.
The 25,000-sitting capacity stadium, with a completion time-line of 24 months, is to be constructed at Igbogene, a suburb of Yenagoa, the state capital.
The state Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali, who visited the site of the new stadium to ascertain the level of clearing work being done, stated that he was pleased with the level of work done so far by the contractor within so short a period.
He noted that the new stadium would occupy about forty hectares of land with a sitting capacity of 25,000, adding that the construction of the stadium is expected to be completed within twenty four months.
Enumerating the facilities that will be in the stadium, Igali explained that the stadium would be a multi-purpose stadium that would have a main bowl along with two training pitches, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a practice pool, a diving pool, basketball courts, volleyball courts, tennis courts, a table tennis hall with about eight other different halls that would house other indoor sports.
Noting that the stadium would be the most modern in the country, the Sports Commissioner said the new stadium would have Video Assistant Referee (VAR) facilities, making it the only stadium in the country to be VAR-compliant.
Asked what company would handle the construction of the stadium, the commissioner explained that the contractor for the project will be unveiled next week after the bidding from five companies who have already shown interest, adding that government was going through the bidding documents of the various contractors before the job would be awarded and made public.
Dr Igali, who hinted that the state will bid for the hosting of the National Sports Festival (NSF) in 2028 when the new stadium is completed, asserted that the essence of constructing the world-class stadium was to ensure that Bayelsa adequately hosts the 2028 National Sports Festival.
Speaking on the choice of Igbogene for the stadium, Dr Igali explained that the land that was earlier earmarked for the construction of the stadium has 18 hectares of land which will not be adequate to house all the facilities government has in mind while Igbogene site has double that space that can comfortably accommodate all the facilities that are needed in a modern stadium.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports Development, Mrs. Grace Alagoa, commended the state governor, Senator Douye Diri for ensuring that the youths earn a living through sports.
Also, Director of Sports, Sir Braveman Wodi, said that the construction of the new stadium would help the athletes to realize their potential and as well consolidate on the achievement made in the sports sector in the last five years, describing it as laudable.
On his part, Mr Ama-ebi Ebikpolade Stow, the Chief Executive Officer of Ama-ebi Consultants Ltd, the company handling the clearing of the stadium site, said 60% of the 25 hectares awarded to his company has been completed in less than eight days and that the remaining part of the clearing would be completed within one week.
