Bayelsa State has met the World Bank assessment for the supply of potable water across its capital city, Yenagoa, and environs.
Governor Douye Diri disclosed this on Wednesday, during the 196th State Executive Council meeting held at the Government House, Yenagoa.
He described the development as “good news” for Bayelsans, stating that the bank will in collaboration with state government officials, begin the mapping of Yenagoa and some neighboring communities for water infrastructure deployment.
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.
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“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 governor stressed that government is 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.
“Investments do not hang in the air. We have seen how some past governors made certain investments but those investments are now a shadow of themselves. I believe every economy is mostly private sector driven,” Diri said.
“Sometimes we may not even see the opportunities as Bayelsans. It is outsiders that see them before our people. So let us open our eyes to the opportunities for economic growth.”
