Bayelsa Passes World Bank Assessment For Yenagoa Water Supply Project
Bayelsa State has passed the World Bank’s assessment for a major potable water supply project aimed at providing improved access to clean water in Yenagoa, the state capital, and neighbouring communities.
Governor Douye Diri disclosed this on Wednesday at the 196th meeting of the Bayelsa State Executive Council held at Government House, Yenagoa.
Diri described the development as good news for the people of the state, saying the World Bank, in collaboration with state government officials, would commence the mapping of Yenagoa and some adjoining communities ahead of the deployment of water infrastructure.
He said the exercise would involve geo-mapping and sensitisation of residents on the proposed water supply project.
“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 neighbouring places. They will deploy geo-mapping and also sensitise the people on this water supply project to Bayelsans,” the governor said.
The governor said the provision of potable water, stable electricity, road infrastructure, schools and healthcare facilities remained critical to creating the foundation required for sustainable economic growth and private-sector investment.
According to him, government alone cannot drive industrialisation, stressing the need for stronger public-private partnerships to unlock Bayelsa’s economic potential.
Diri said his administration was focused on creating the basic infrastructure needed to attract investors, urging Bayelsans to identify and take advantage of emerging opportunities in the state.
“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,” he said.
The governor added: “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.”
PLWDs Honour Governor Diri
At the council meeting, Governor Diri also received an Award of Excellence for Disability Inclusion in recognition of his administration’s efforts to promote the rights and inclusion of Persons Living With Disabilities (PLWDs) in Bayelsa State.
The award was presented by the Commissioner for Women, Child Empowerment and Social Development, Mrs Joanna Gigi, on behalf of the PLWD community.
According to the commissioner, the recognition was particularly in appreciation of the governor’s commitment to disability inclusion and his assent to the Persons Living with Disabilities Law 2026, which she described as a significant milestone for the state.
The PLWD community also commended the administration’s efforts under the Assured Prosperity Agenda, including the appointment of 40 persons with disabilities into government positions and the employment of more than 20 physically challenged persons into the state civil service.
The recognition, the commissioner said, underscored the administration’s commitment to ensuring that persons living with disabilities are not excluded from governance, employment and opportunities for meaningful participation in the development of the state.
