Rivers orders release of another N100m to European Union for water project

OYINKARI PATRICK

Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State made last minute order for release of another N100 million to the counterpart fund with the European Union (EU) on its Niger Delta water support scheme.

Wike made the order in the presence of a delegation that came to remind him that the deadline for the scheme involving two local council areas was at hand, called the RSG/EU NSDP.

Water supply has been on the freeze in the state capital and most of the 23 local council areas for years and the last scheme sponsored by the World Bank and the African Development Bank (AfDB) has been stalled.

Last week, it was revealed that the Rivers State government had earlier released the first tranche of counterpart fund of N100 million to the EU partners. The two benefiting local government areas are Akuku-Toru and Opobo-Nkoro (covering Opobo/Nkoro made up of Opobo, Nkoro and Kalaibiama; and Akuku-Toru made up of Abonnema, Kula and Abissa.

Speaking during a courtesy visit by the EU counsellor Nigeria, Kurt Cornelis to the Government House, Port Harcourt, last week, Gov Wike noted that the fact that the state government paid the first tranche of 50 percent proved its commitment to the project.

He said: “I have given the authority that by tomorrow the second tranche of N100 million be paid. Be rest assured that whatever needs to be done would be done. I commend the EU for this programme. We will never be a state that will be backwards in water and sanitation projects.”

The governor urged the implementers of the Niger Delta Support Programme component three to be transparent as they award contracts for the projects. “Water and sanitation remains key because they are close to the health of our communities. After this project, we expect the EU to give the state more grants, so that we can extend this to more local government areas.”

Earlier, Cornelis called for firm commitment from the state government on the payment of the remaining 50 percent counterpart fund. According to him, the payment was required to determine the scope of the programme. He said that contracts for the programme would be signed on October 26, 2017.

He said: “In principle, we need confirmation of that payment, if we are to carry out 100 percent of the works. We need to take a decision today about the final scope of projects in Rivers State “.

culled from www.businessdayonline.com