Lagos Water Corporation Affirms Clean Water Access to Baruwa Community; holds Sensitization Forum

• *** Lagos state government to subsidize water tariff rates at Baruwa Community
• *** Community pledges to self-monitor to ensure sustainability of the water service
• *** LWC to work with Lasepa and State Water Regulatory commission to ensure quality and sustainability of waterworks, water availability

The Baruwa Community in Alimosho area of Lagos expressed their joy and gratitude to the Lagos State Government as they have been provided with clean, safe water from the Mosan Okunola waterworks by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC)

This happened earlier today, June 22, 2024 as the Lagos Water Corporation held an interactive community engagement forum to sensitize leaders and members of the community on the integrity and quality of the public clean water connection, the impact such water access would have on their community; and to solicit the support of the community as co-owners of the water works.

The Managing Director of the LWC, Engr. Muhktaar Tijani, while giving his opening remarks, stated that the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had prioritized clean water provision in Lagos state and the new management of the LWC is committed to ensuring the Governor’s vision is actualized.

According to Engr Tijani, who was represented by the Executive Director – Operations, Engr. Helen Lanke Taiwo, in December 2023, the Mosan Okunola waterworks, was commissioned after a rehabilitation exercise.

“We realised that Abesan-Baruwa, which is a neighbouring community could also be connected. Six months ago, this community was connected and today, we are here to re-affirm to you, the community that we have provided the service and that you have been enjoying access to clean, safe water. The water belongs to you; it’s the tax payer’s money that has been expended to ensure that there is accessible, safe and clean water.

“We are here to discuss how the community can manage this service to ensure sustainability. For us, you must own this facility. It is for you. And this will help the community, the people and the government”, noted the LWC Boss

The Ba’ale of Baruwa community, High Chief Khalid Baruwa, applauded the LWC for the corporation’s continuous efforts to ensure that clean, sustainable pipe borne water comes to Baruwa Community.

He promised that the community will make judicious use of the water provided. He also pledged to remonstrate with residents of Baruwa Community to ensure they make their water payments promptly and desist from activities that will contaminate the water.

He noted that though the Cholera Outbreak was a global phenomenon, members of the community will endeavour to properly utilize and own the water infrastructure, so they could be safe from health risks and such outbreaks.

“We thank Mr Governor and the Water Corporation for their efforts to ensure our community has accessible and clean water again after so many years. We just plead that the water tariff is people and payment friendly”, enjoined the community head.

The Executive Director-Operations of LWC, Engr. Helen Lanke Taiwo, confirmed that the water corporation had not raised the water tariffs but are allowing users to pay the last rates they were paying years back. She also confirmed that the state government had pledged to subsidize the tariff to ensure that every member of the community with access to the water mains would be able to afford payment.

Speaking to newsmen, Engr Taiwo noted “For us, this whole process and the provision of sustainable water is a sign of responsive governance”

According to Engr Taiwo, “Over the years, the Baruwa community had suffered from contaminated underground water. This made all the boreholes impure and unfit for human consumption. Therefore for us at the water corporation, it’s an extremely welcome achievement”.

This assertion was bolstered by Mrs Peju Isola, Divisional Director, Commercial, Customer and Community relations of the Lagos Water Corporation. She said, “We want the community to own this facility. We want to carry the community along in the process of providing this service, access the connections and also support the government in paying for the water and to sustain the water service as the government could not sustain such services without the community’s full and total support”

The community engagement forum was highly interactive and several points for resolution were raised including:
* For the water services to be metered much like power to avoid wastage and ensure equity payment according to usage
* For there to be different tariffs for industrial, commercial and domestic users
* How would Street and house connections would be made and assessed for payment where such houses are far from the water connections.

In wrapping up the engagement forum, the water corporation stated they were committed to constant monitoring of the waterworks and the connections.

Engr Taiwo stated that the corporation would provide water meters once sustainability of water access is assured.

According to her, the LWC have established a hotline to call in case of any emergencies. If there’s a disruption, if there’s a failure in service, if there’s a complaint that needs resolution, the corporation is always ready to respond.