F.G Partners Bayelsa Government on provision of Water

The federal government has expressed its desire to partner the Government of Bayelsa State to ensure adequate provision of safe water for the people of the area.The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe, made this known when she received the Governor of Bayelsa State, Hon. Seriake Dickson, in her office in Abuja.

Ochekpe said the federal government had realised that to meet the MDGs goals there was the need to increase collaboration with the states government and it was in this regard the ministry recently held a meeting with all the commissioners of water resources to further strengthen the bond of cooperation between them to achieve the objective of adequate provision of safe water.She added that a meeting with Nigeria Governors' Forum was being planned to solicit for their support.

The minister told the governor that work was progressing on the Otuoke water project being handled by the ministry of Water Resources which extends to 13 communities within the Otuoke Area and other similar projects in the state.While lamenting the setback suffered by the Otuoke water project due to the effect of flood of last year, Mrs. Ochekpe assured that the project would soon be completed and by July this year the people of Otuoke and other adjoining communities would start to enjoy water.

"We are sorry that in Bayelsa State you have so much water around you but not fresh water because of the effect of pollution, government is doing everything possible through our Niger Delta River Basin Authority to support you and ensure adequate provision of water for the people in the area", the Minister said.On the interest shown by the Bayelsa State Government to take over the Rice Farm Project at Peremabiri, the minister said: "We will collaborate with you but we will not hand over the project".

Earlier, the Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, said the state government alone could not provide water in a state like Bayelsa without support from the federal government."I am here to solicit your support in technical terms. We need to tap into the expertise of your ministry. My government intends to do a lot this year in the area of water", the governor further said.

On the devastating flood that ravaged the state last year, Dickson explained that measures were being taken by his government to prevent the reoccurrence of flood of last year.He said that he had set up two committees to enable government prepare effective response.The governor said his government also intended to embark on massive rice farming this year to turn around the economy of the state.

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By
Yemi Akinsuyi
Allafrica online