ASABA – The World Bank on Tuesday urged Delta Government not to relent in its commitment to the State Employment and Expenditure For Result (SEEFOR) project in the state.
Mr Jens Khristensen, who led a delegation from the bank on a tour of the state, made the call when the team visited the Commissioner for Finance, Chief Kenneth Okpara, in Asaba.
Khristensen commended the state government for its commitment to SEEFOR projects, which it was undertaking in conjunction with the bank and the European Union (EU).
“The state has recorded significant improvement on SEEFOR projects in the last two years, especially in the area of creating employment for the people.
“Delta has been a pacesetter state among the four states where SEEFOR is being implemented as it has recorded more progress,” he said.
He explained that the team was in the state to provide support and guarantees for the implementation of the programme and its beneficiaries.
Responding, Okpara told the delegation that the prevailing fluctuation in global price of oil was affecting the revenue of the state, explaining that the development prompted the decision of the state to introduce “Delta Beyond Oil” initiative.
According to him, Delta is looking at how it can focus on other areas aside oil, because the fluctuation in the price of oil is affecting the revenue of the state.
Okpara assured that the state government would continue to partner the World Bank in developing its private sector.
He appealed for more interventions of the bank in the state, especially in education development, and commended the bank for its grant to technical colleges in the state. (NAN)
