Wilkie Harps On Training To Achieve World Bank Project, SURWASH In Delta • Assures Pure Water Consumers Of Govt’s Intervention

DELTA State Commissioner for Water Resources Development, Dr. Isaac Tosan Wilkie has disclosed that the ministry considers training and retraining of personnel as critical to the realization of  the state government’s programmes in the water sector and in making useful contributions to the actualisation of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s M.O.R.E. Agenda.

Speaking on a World Bank project, the World Bank Sustainable Urban Water Sanitation  and Hygiene (SURWASH) in Delta State, Wilkie said the Validation of Policy Institutional and Regulatory (PIR) Plan, held last Wednesday, at Top View Hotel, Asaba, Delta State capital, is part of the ministry’s training and retraining programmes.

Wilkie said: “we train and retrain on a continuous basis so that our personnel can have up-to-date knowledge on how to realize various initiatives that we have on ground such as the SURWASH programme. The world is developing very fast as you can see, so the ministry considers it very vital to keep up with the latest trends in the industry through training and retraining.”

Wilkie further stated that the ministry’s training programmes are always qualitative, saying that, “on this particular training, we have a consultant based in Europe but she is here to train our people, to pass on knowledge on how we can manage the SURWASH programme towards better water provision for all Deltans.”

On the World Bank part of the programme, Wilkie informed that it is a six-year programme, saying: “we already spent three years so in the next three years, we are expected to have gone far through abundance of quality water projects for provision of potable water and proper water sanitation for the benefit of all Deltans.”

The Water Resources Commissioner posited that, “we are also out to eliminate water-borne diseases through potable water provision by the Oborevwori led administration.” Those present during the training included the Director-General, Delta State Sanitation and Water Sector Regulatory Commission (DESWAREC), Engr. Henry Idama, among other important stakeholders in the state.

On the role of the private sector, Wilkie said: “we are very much interested in the role of the private sector players because the M.O.R.E. Agenda is also investment driven, which is why we are keen on the PPP arrangement, such as the Warri/Effurun water project handled by a company called ‘Dom Domingos and others being more of a PPP project. In all of these, we are making significant progress towards potable water for all Deltans.

On the sudden hike in price of pure water by the producers, especially in Asaba, the state capital, Wilkie said: “we have met with the sachet water producers’ association and we have deliberated on the situation. At the end, they went home satisfied that our position is very clear. Even if they were going to increase the price of pure water, they should have consulted with us. The regulatory body is very much on ground to advice on the best measures to take and guide them properly.”

A Europe-based consultant, Biodun Bamgboye, training participants during the SURWASH Validation of Policy Institutional and Regulatory (PIR) Plan, held last Wednesday, at Top View Hotel, Asaba, Delta State capital. DELTA State Commissioner for Water Resources Development, Dr. Isaac Tosan Wilkie is seated (4th left) with Director-General, Delta State Sanitation and Water Sector Regulatory Commission (DESWAREC), Engr. Henry Idama (right), among other important stakeholders 

DELTA State Commissioner for Water Resources Development, Dr. Isaac Tosan Wilkie addressing participants, during the World Bank Sustainable Urban Water Sanitation  and Hygiene (SURWASH) Validation of Policy Institutional and Regulatory (PIR) Plan, held last Wednesday, at Top View Hotel, Asaba, Delta State capital

Hon. Commissioner of Water Resources Development, Dr. Isaac Tosan Wilkie (4th left), DG DESWAREC, Engr. Henry Idama (3rd left), the consultant, Biodun Bamgboye (5th left) and others, during the Validation of SURWASH PIR Plan, held in Asaba, Delta State capital