Delta State governor-elect, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori says the incoming state administration will partner with the World Bank in its Small, Medium and Long Term development programmes.
Hon Oborevwori who is the speaker of the State House of Assembly stated this when he played host in his office in Asaba, the state capital, to a delegation from the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources on the Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene, SURWASH project.
The governor-elect told the delegation that he had inaugurated a transition committee to midwife the smooth take-off of the incoming administration, disclosing that the committee would among others, come up with Small, Medium and Long Term development plans for the state.
Oborevwori said the incoming administration would seriously engage critical stakeholders and development partners, including the World Bank, in ensuring successful implementation of the SML programmmes.
He expressed happiness over the visit of the delegation as it afforded him the opportunity to interact with them on ways to attract development to the state in line with his M.O.R.E agenda.
He told the delegation that Delta State is peaceful and safe, assuring that the state government would continue to provide a conducive environment for investors and investment to thrive.
Delta State commissioner for Water Resources Development, Hon Samuel Mariere said the SURWASH project is a six-year program of the World Bank in partnership with Delta State and six other benefiting states in Nigeria.
Hon Mariere said the programme has taken firm root in Delta State, disclosing that the sum of $1million was recently released to the state for projects under the SURWASH programme.
Saying that SURWASH is a project that attracts rewards, the commissioner explained that the state has a strong implementation team and the Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa is very keen on seeing to the success of the programme in the state.
According to Hon Mariere, the first phase of implementation is in the area of water supply and Asaba, Okpanam and their areas have been chosen for the pilot scheme.
He said the overall interest is to ensure clean water supply for the people of Delta State.
In his remarks, technical team leader of the project, Mr Gerhardus Nicholas Soppe said the sum of $700million was voted by the World Bank for the SURWASH project.
While appreciating the gvernor elect, Sheriff Oborevwori for the audience, Mr Soppe stated that Delta Statewas lucky to be one of the seven states in the country chosen for the SURWASH programme.
The national project coordinator, Federal ministry of Water Resources, Dahiru Abdul said the national implementation committee would continue to encourage participating states to ensure the actualization of set goals.
The team was on a three-day working visit to Delta State.
