The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has expressed commitment to completing all projects needed to enable the state to host a hitch-free National Sports Festival in 2028.

Speaking yesterday at Government House, Yenagoa, when a National Sports Commission (NSC) team, led by its Director General, Bukola Olopade, paid him a courtesy call, Diri said that the state is ready to host the festival given the huge investment of his administration in sports.

He noted that what hindered Bayelsa in the past from hosting the NSF were sporting facilities, a challenge he said was being addressed with the construction of a 25,000-capacity stadium, which can be expanded to 35,000.

The Bayelsa helmsman assured that funds would not delay completion of the stadium as 30 per cent of the construction cost has been paid to the contractor, who has equally promised to deliver within the stipulated date of 2027.

“Today is historic in the sporting history of Bayelsa State. We have been participating in national sports festivals. As a former Commissioner for Sports, I am happy that we have made a bid that is acceptable to the NSC. Our state is peaceful, and we are a very hospitable people. We love visitors. Under my government, we have commissioners and Special Advisers who are not Bayelsans. We are very prepared to host the National Sports Festival. The only issue we had was the facility, but we are addressing it.

Earlier, Olapade told the governor that the team visited to inspect facilities before announcing the 2028 sports festival host.
The NSC boss said that the facilities his team inspected were the security infrastructure, medical facilities, wrestling gyms, table tennis halls, and the ongoing ultramodern stadium project.

From what the team saw, Olopade expressed confidence that Bayelsa State will get the nod to host the festival, describing the state as very peaceful, hospitable and a sleeping giant with great potential in the sports sector.