Rivers seeks $280m World Bank, AfDB facility for urban water sector reform

Rivers State is approaching the World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB) for $280 million facility to finance its recently launched Urban Water sector reform under the Port Harcourt Water Supply Scheme and the Sanitation project (PHWSSS).

The Port Harcourt Water Supply and Sanitation project, which was launched by Governor Nyesom Wike at the weekend, is targeted at addressing the appalling water infrastructure in Port Harcourt metropolis, the West African oil hub with a dense population, which also faces urban sanitation challenges.

An initial sum of $200 million would be sourced from the World Bank; $80 million would come from the African Development Bank, while Rivers State Government would account for $48 million as counterpart fund.

The state commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Ibibia O’Walter said the project is part of a wide sector institutional reform embarked upon by the state government, as coordinated by the National Urban Water Sector Reform by the office of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Rural Development.

While performing the launch in Port Harcourt, Governor Wike said the project would create women entrepreneurs, youth employment, as well as provide safe drinking water for the inhabitants of the state.

He said the project is key to the development of the state, and is in line with the administration’s promises to the people of the state, as clearly spelt out in development blueprint.

The governor said within the first 100 days of his administration, the potable water scheme was launched at Abonnema in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of the state.

He commended the Federal Government for selecting Rivers State as one of the pilot states for the scheme; noting that the state government would pay its counterpart funds as and when due.

Governor Wike maintained that his administration would always collaborate with the Federal Government in areas that would benefit the populace.