An end may now be in sight for the water shortage that has ravaged many areas of Lagos State for a long time now as residents who had long forgotten that there was anything called public water would soon benefit from efforts by Babatunde Fashola, governor of the state, to generate 30 million gallons of water daily.

The governor, on assumption of office in 2007 had promised to build 15 new mini waterworks across the state to produce 30 million gallons of water daily. Each of the waterworks will be accompanied with reticulated five kilometres network to ensure prompt distribution of the water. Eight of the mini waterworks have already been completed while the remaining seven are at various stages of completion.

The first two mini waterworks located at Mende, Maryland in Onigbongbo Local Council Development area and Magodo in Kosofe Local Government with capacity to produce two million gallons per day, were commissioned recently. Fashola described the delivery of the mini waterworks as a fulfilment of his electoral promises to the people two and half years ago. As part of the medium-term plans to solve the problem of water supply, government intended to upgrade the capacity of the Iju Waterworks and Adiyan Waterworks to produce about 130 million gallons of water daily. The state is proposing to build a 12.5-megawatt independent power station, which would be commissioned this June, to be dedicated mainly to the two waterworks to ensure optimum production and constant distribution.

Since the Fashola administration saw water supply as a major component of the state government’s responsibility to sustain the environment, promote sustainability and

maintain healthcare delivery as well as prevent outbreak of diseases, it initiated a long-term strategy to build new massive waterworks through the Adiyan Phase 2 and Odomola in Epe. According to the governor, “the plans form part of the water sector reforms of the government and the private investors should be encouraged to come forward and partner with us by investing in the water sector just as it is done overseas.”

Having noticed the poor handling of government property by residents of the state, the governor had to appeal to communities where the waterworks are located not to see the projects as government properties. “But see it as facilities you would be ready to defend, guide against vandalism, cutting of pipes and making illegal connections,” he warned and charged residents to pay their water bills regularly as refusal to do so would deprive the water corporation of resources to keep the supply going.

With public taps completely dried up for years in most areas of the state, many individual homes and corporate organisations, resorted to drilling boreholes to meet their daily water needs and those who can not afford to drill boreholes or dig wells have daily encounter with water vendors who make fortunes hawking water sold in cans for between N40 and N60 depending on the size.

In what is akin to children of cloth merchant wearing rags, residents of a coastal state like Lagos that is surrounded with water had no access to potable water. Non-availability of water is inimical to a disease-free society as it gives rise to an epidemic especially in a state like Lagos the economic nerve centre of the country, with a population

of over 15 million people. Apart from the water being used for agriculture, water is important for the maintenance of any hygienic environment to keep diseases at bay. Ibiyemi Adesanya, a resident who lives in Ikeja said it is really expensive to get water for family use everyday. “I spend between N800 and N1,000 daily on water,” she said.

The shortage of water in Lagos is blamed on wastage and government bureaucracy. It is said that a damaged tap may be left unrepaired while water gushes out of broken pipes for several months without anyone calling the attention of the water corporation to ensure repairs. But even in cases where a report was made to the appropriate quarters, bureaucracy in government offices coupled with the general nonchalant attitude of government workers towards handling of government property still delay repair works for months while the water processed and treated with public funds is wasted. And just like the refineries, almost all the water treatment facilities across the state are not functioning, no thanks to the traditional irregular power supply coupled with lack of maintenance due to inadequate funding.  

To curb wastage and bring the waterworks back to a functional state, the Lagos State government, during the water sector reforms of the administration of former Governor Bola Tinubu decided to privatise the water corporation to ensure efficient water distribution. But with privatisation came another challenge. While many were paying water rates, very few were getting supplies. It was discovered, last year, by the water corporation that some unscrupulous elements on the Lagos Island and some other areas were

were tapping the water from the pipelines, diverting the flow for sale and for running illegal car wash while some were packaging it in nylon sachet for sale. Although the long hand of the law caught up with the culprits and they were apprehended and the repair works done, it was discovered that the state needs to build more waterworks to ensure adequate water supply across the state.  This, of course, was the reason behind the construction of new waterworks and the upgrading of old ones by the government.

Adenike Adeyemi, an elated resident of Mende community, could not contain her happiness at the commissioning of the mini waterworks. “We are very happy. At least from now on we will have access to government water the water vendors will no longer take our money; you can imagine spending almost N1,000 on water daily. There is no problem about paying water bills, once water is available we will pay,” she told the magazine.

 

Bringing water back to a functional state in Lagos

Adeyemi: We are very happy

Mamora: Commends Fashola

Tinubu: Laid the foundation

Fashola: The trademark for performance and good governance

Mamora, Fashola at the commissioning of the mini waterworks at Magodo, Lagos