Community Water Parliament: Lagos Water Corporation Assures Residents of Improved Potable Water Supply

The Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) has raised hopes among water consumers in the state by promising the restoration of potable water supply in the near future.

This commitment was made by the Corporation’s Managing Director, Engr. Mukhtaar Tijani, MNSE, FNIEE, who was represented by Mrs. ‘Peju Isola, LWC Divisional Director of Customers, Commercial and Community Relations.

The announcement came during the ongoing Community Water Parliament, held in Ogba, Lagos, as part of the 2024 Africa Week of Resistance Against Water Privatisation. This event, organized by the Our Water Our Right Africa Coalition (OWORAC) and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), aimed to tackle the pressing water challenges in the state.

Engr. Tijani provided insights into LWC’s efforts to address key issues raised by community participants regarding access to potable water, pollution, and high water tariffs. He emphasized the importance of community involvement in supporting the Corporation’s initiatives to enhance water access.

Commending the organizers for highlighting these critical issues, Tijani noted that the LWC is actively restructuring its operations. “We have implemented strategic planning to tackle the challenges at hand,” he stated. He detailed ongoing rehabilitation efforts by the state government to upgrade the aging infrastructure at major waterworks, specifically the 45MGD Iju and 70MGD Adiyan plants, aiming to restore them to their original design capacities.

In addition, he discussed various state interventions to address issues such as chemical management and power outages, which impact the Corporation’s ability to provide reliable service. “LWC has the mandate to ensure potable water delivery to residents,” he added. However, he acknowledged that full coverage in all areas of Lagos State is still a work in progress. “Water treatment is capital intensive, and the government has taken loans to support these initiatives,” he explained.

Tijani also addressed the history of public-private partnerships (PPP) that have been established to enhance water supply, such as the Akute Power Plant, which provides round-the-clock power to key water facilities, minimizing reliance on the unstable national grid.

“I want to emphasize that while the state government recognizes its responsibility to provide water, it cannot be entirely free,” he stated. “However, it has been heavily subsidized, and indications suggest that this will continue.”

Additionally, he highlighted support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which is backing the Lagos Urban Water Sanitation and Hygiene (LUWASH) program. This initiative includes a five-year intervention grant to improve safe water supply in five communities, with rehabilitation work on mini waterworks in areas such as Badore, Lekki, and Ajegunle already underway. The second phase will include the development of an additional five mini waterworks, including the Oshodi Waterworks.

Finally, Tijani mentioned the ongoing construction of the Adiyan Phase II Water Treatment Plant, which will have a design capacity of 70MGD, aimed at serving the western regions of the state.