Bayelsa scales World Bank hurdle for water supply in Yenagoa

Bayelsa state has met the World Bank assessment for the supply of potable water across its capital city, Yenagoa, and environs,

Governor Douye Diri has said.

He stated this Thursday during the 196th State Executive Council meeting held in Government House, Yenagoa.

He described the development as “good news” for Bayelsans, adding that the bank will, in collaboration with state government officials, begin mapping of Yenagoa and some neighbouring communities for water infrastructure deployment.

Senator Diri noted that with ongoing efforts to achieve stable electricity and potable water supply, his administration would have delivered the basic requirements for societal growth.

He said: “We have been on this water thing with the World Bank, and Bayelsa is one of the states that has passed the hurdle of the bank.

“So the World Bank will, alongside our state government officials, go round the whole of Yenagoa and some neighboring places. They will deploy geo-mapping and also sensitise the people on this water supply project to Bayelsans,” he said.

He further stated that by providing water, electricity, road infrastructure, schools and health facilities, his administration was laying a solid foundation to attract private sector investment to the state.

The Bayelsa helmsman added that the government was not always the best businessman and advocated public-private partnership as the way forward for industrialising the state.

He called on Bayelsans to take advantage of the foundation being laid by his administration, adding that outsiders might see the economic opportunities in the state before them.