The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Baraladei Daniel-Igali has revealed plans to upgrade mini stadiums sited in local government areas of the state to accommodate national tournaments.

The Commissioner made this known during an assessment tour of sporting facilities in Opu Nembe and Nembe City Mini Stadiums in Nembe Local Government area of the State on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.

Hon. Igali noted that the necessary facilities would be provided in the stadiums to make them befitting for both local and national leagues matches, pointing out that, upgrading of sporting facilities across the state was necessary to improve sporting activities in the State.

The Commissioner said that the prosperity government has shown commitment and readiness to give sport a new face in the State as well as groom sports person to become sports giants.

He commended the previous administration for putting up the facilities, adding that, stadiums would be provided where they were non-existent in the state.

The Commissioner promised to deploy coaches to the areas and provide the modalities to enhance the functionality of the facilities in order to prevent their decay.

The Commissioner commended the management teams of the stadiums for their good work and admonished them to effectively utilize the facilities to ensure that they are in good shape, noting that, the common problem facing government property was maintenance.

The Commissioner thanked the chiefs and the sport teams of the area as for their hospitality.

The Regent and the Chairman, Opu Nembe Council of Chiefs, Chief Oriango Oruwari, commended the Commissioner for the visit and appealed to the Commissioner to facilitate the provision of the necessary facilities to give a facelift to the stadiums.

The Commissioner also visited the CDC Chairman of Nembe City, Chief E. J. Tobin.

The Commissioner was accompanied by the two Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry, Chief Patimidi Tukuru and Mrs. Ruth Etebu, the Head, Sports Department, Mrs. Rachel Edward-Dappa, the Director of Sports Council, Braveman Wodi, the Head, Planning Research and Statistics, Ebi Koroye and the Head, Facility, Godgift Dede among others.