Extend SEEFOR programme, Bayelsa begs World Bank

Bayelsa State Deputy Governor, Retired Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, has appealed to the World Bank to extend the State Employment and Expenditure for Results (Seefor) Programme in the State beyond September 2019, the terminal date for the Programme.

According to him, given the huge success of the Seefor Programme in the State, there is a need for the World Bank to either extend it or create another window of similar collaboration with the State government, with a view to continuing the developmental agenda of the World Bank in the State.

According to a statement signed by his media aide, Mr Ebi Evinson, Gboribiogha stated this when officials of the World Bank, as well as the Seefor National Task Team, paid him a courtesy visit at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.

The deputy governor also commended the World Bank for the Seefor concept and the encouragement it has given to the State government, adding that the penetration of the rural areas in terms of access, infrastructure and youth empowerment through the Programme has been very successful.

Earlier in his remarks, Mr Parminder Brar, Leader of the World Bank Delegation and the Seefor Task Team stated that Bayelsa State was leading other states in terms of execution of Seefor Programmes in Nigeria, especially in the last two years of implementation of projects.

He also said that the Seefor Programme which started six years ago would terminate by September next year, adding that its focus has been on the development of infrastructure, such as roads in the rural areas, youth empowerment and acquisition of technical skills by youths to sustain themselves in life.

The Team Leader further emphasized the need to acquire technology for purposes of planning, stressing that Bayelsa State has a lot of potentials, particularly in her tourism, agricultural and oil and gas sectors.

In an interview with journalists, RT. Hon. Kombowei Benson, Speaker, Bayelsa State House of Assembly, thanked the World Bank for addressing some of the infrastructural deficiencies in the rural communities of the State through its Seefor Programme.

He assured that the State Assembly would continue to do the needful in terms of appropriation to support the Seefor Programme in the State.