Lagos gets World Bank partnership renewal, rated high performing state

Officials of the global development and reconstruction bank, the World Bank Group (WBG), expressed their satisfaction with the pace of urban renewal and infrastructural developments in Lagos state.

The Bank’s officials who are official visit to the state government on Saturday, June 4, 2017 said the bank would help in mobilization of private sector participation and partnership in developmental projects in the state.

Mr Joaquim Levy, the Managing Director/Group Chief Financial Officer of WBG, who led the delegation on a courtesy visit to Governor of state, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, but were received by the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Adebule.

Mr Levy noted that the state government had shown its commitment to achieving development and improving the standard of living of the people.

“Though we have been working with Lagos State for many years, but we came to Nigeria to see how the private sector is performing so we can fashion out new ways to accelerate development in the country.

“In Nigeria, Lagos State has been leading in many aspects of transportation, agriculture, environmental management, education, infrastructure and other developmental projects," Levy noted.

While expressing the World bank’s commitment to assisting the state government towards achieving its developmental goals, Mr Levy further noted that: “We are very happy that the government is striving to directly impact on the lives of its citizens and the World Bank has come to further assist the government in some other challenging sectors such as the energy sector.

“We are willing to assist the government and mobilise the private sector to help the government accelerate its urban renewal and infrastructural development to improve the living condition of the people.”

The Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Idiat Adebule also remarked that positive partnership with private sector is key to the development of any nation.

“Your partnership with us in the past years has been very tremendous and we look forward to more of such collaborations, especially in some challenging sectors.

“The government is judiciously expending the internally generated revenue to drive development, but more still needs to be done like in the area of potable water."

Dr Adebule also highlighted healthcare, environmental management, tourism, education, agriculture, energy and transportation as possible areas of collaboration between the state government and the WBG.

“Only 30 per cent of the people in the state have access to potable water and we need to really increase access to water.

“The energy sector, education and water transportation are our areas of challenge and we need your assistance to surmount them.”

Lagos gets World Bank partnership renewal, rated high performing state

Officials of the global development and reconstruction bank, the World Bank Group (WBG), expressed their satisfaction with the pace of urban renewal and infrastructural developments in Lagos state.

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