Niger Delta
Sustainability Drives Rivers Water Sector Reform Program – Simon-Hart
The Rivers State Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development Ms. Patricia Simon-Hart says the ongoing Rivers State Water Sector Reforms are aimed at ensuring that the abundant water resources in the state are provided in a sustainable and affordable manner.
Simon-Hart stated this last week in a presentation made to Water and Sanitation Programme (WSP), a multi-donor partnership administered by the World Bank, on a visit to Rivers state to explore areas of assistance in the provision of portable water.
WSP has led and supported several advances in the Water and Sanitation sector for about three decades; providing various forms of Technical assistance in 25 countries across the world through their regional offices.
The Commissioner explained that the ongoing reforms designed to restructure and strengthen the institutions in the River State Water Sector, are to improve the overall efficiency and ensure sustainable water delivery.
According to the Commissioner, the need for the reforms was based on the challenges encountered in achieving sustainable water supply and the need for a strategy to ensure a permanent solution in the sector.
Simon-Hart said that so far, the ministry has driven the reforms to a point where future investment in infrastructure will be secured. She listed some of the achievements to include; stipulating clearly defined roles and responsibilities for all key players in the sector, the development and adoption of the Rivers State Water Policy by the State Executive Council and the passage of the Rivers State Water Sector Development Law by the state House of Assembly as well as the subsequent signing of the bill into Law by the Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi.
Others include; completion of the design for the Port Harcourt Urban Water Scheme, Master plans for Water Sector development in the Local Government Areas and training programmes for the Staff in order to build their capacity in relevant areas.
In his response, leader of the WSP team from the World Bank, Mr.Dominick De Waal commended the visionary approach taken by the commissioner and said it has rightly positioned the State to attract the needed technical support and investment.
He gave assurances that his team would not only provide such technical assistance but would support the state to ensure the realization of the reform objectives.
“WSP shall focus its assistance in the first year to Port Harcourt Water Corporation (PWC)” he stated.According to Mr. Waal the technical assistance will involve two broad elements: Clearly mapping out the reform process, by developing action plans with deliverables and deadlines to provide the needed focus to move the reforms forward and assisting in developing an emergency work program beginning with a selected pilot area where 24 hours service shall be sustained throughout the period.
The emergency works programme that is expected to commence in the next couple of weeks shall provide the needed basis for extending the programme to the entire city and attract the financing required for the entire project.
Desmond Osueke
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