- Sanwo-Olu Administration Targets Restoration of Century-Old Water Facility Through Strategic Rehabilitation and Modernisation Programme
After serving as the backbone of public water supply in Lagos for more than 116 years, the historic Iju Waterworks is undergoing one of the most significant rehabilitation programmes in its history, marking a major milestone in the Lagos State Government’s efforts to strengthen water infrastructure and improve access to potable water.
The extensive intervention, approved by Lagos State Governor, Dr Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and being implemented under the leadership of the Managing Director of the Lagos Water Corporation, Engr. Mukhtaar Tijani, seeks to restore the operational efficiency of the century-old facility through the replacement of critical pumping systems and the rehabilitation of key infrastructure.
The project represents a decisive step towards reversing decades of ageing infrastructure, improving production efficiency and repositioning one of Nigeria’s oldest public water supply facilities to meet the growing demands of Africa’s fastest-growing megacity.
A Legacy That Shaped Lagos
The history of organised public water supply in Lagos dates back to 1910 when construction of the Iju Waterworks, then known as the Federal Water Supply Scheme, commenced.
Designed as the first modern public water supply system in Lagos, the facility initially operated with a production capacity of 11,000 cubic metres of water per day (approximately 2.42 million gallons daily), sourcing raw water from natural spring trenches within the Iju Hills to serve the residential quarters of British colonial administrators in Ikoyi.
In 1915, the waterworks was officially commissioned by then Governor-General Lord Frederick Lugard, alongside the installation of the first 28-inch cast iron transmission trunk main that conveyed treated water into Lagos.
Over the decades, the facility expanded in tandem with the city’s rapid urbanisation.
Key milestones in its development include:
- 1943: Production capacity increased to 27,000 cubic metres per day (6 million gallons daily).
- 1954: Capacity expanded further to 50,000 cubic metres per day (11 million gallons daily), with additional raw water abstraction facilities constructed at Akute on the River Ogun.
- 1962: Installation of a third 42-inch steel transmission trunk main.
- 1973: Major expansion increased production to approximately 35 million gallons per day (MGD).
- 1982–1985: Installed production capacity rose to about 45 MGD, accompanied by the construction of the 5,000-cubic-metre overhead reservoir at Ishaga.
For decades, Iju Waterworks remained the cornerstone of Lagos’ public water supply system, serving millions of residents and supporting the state’s economic growth.
Ageing Infrastructure and Declining Performance
Despite its strategic importance, much of the facility’s critical electromechanical equipment remained in operation for several decades with limited large-scale rehabilitation.
As Lagos experienced unprecedented population growth, ageing pumps, increasing maintenance requirements and declining equipment reliability gradually affected production efficiency.
Frequent mechanical failures and rising operational costs meant that actual output increasingly fell below the plant’s installed capacity of 45 million gallons per day, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive rehabilitation.
Industry observers have long identified infrastructure renewal as essential, not only to preserve one of Nigeria’s oldest public utilities but also to enhance water security for a rapidly expanding urban population.
Major Rehabilitation Underway
Responding to these challenges, the Lagos State Government approved a comprehensive rehabilitation programme aimed at restoring critical infrastructure at the Iju Waterworks.
A key component of the intervention is the installation of new high-capacity pumps at the Iju Headworks and Akute Water Intake Stations under the project titled “Rehabilitation of Iju Headworks and Akute Intake Station – Lots 1, 2 & 3.”
The rehabilitation forms part of the Lagos Water Corporation’s wider infrastructure renewal programme covering the Iju and Adiyan Water Treatment Plants, scheduled between February and October 2026.
The initiative is expected to improve operational reliability, reduce downtime, enhance production efficiency and strengthen the long-term resilience of Lagos’ public water supply network.
Leadership Driving Infrastructure Renewal
Implementation of the rehabilitation programme is being coordinated by the Managing Director of the Lagos Water Corporation, Engr. Mukhtaar Tijani, whose administration has prioritised the restoration of ageing infrastructure, operational efficiency and sustainable service delivery.
According to the Corporation, the ongoing replacement of obsolete pumping systems represents one of the most visible aspects of its broader strategy to modernise water infrastructure, improve service delivery and rebuild public confidence in the state’s water sector.
Speaking on the project, Engr. Tijani described the rehabilitation as a key milestone in implementing the Corporation’s Strategic Business Plan.
“This project must not be business as usual. We want all hands on deck to ensure timely and successful delivery. Let this dream become a reality,” he said.
Strengthening Water Security for a Growing Megacity
Beyond restoring ageing equipment, the rehabilitation is expected to improve production efficiency, minimise operational interruptions and enhance the Corporation’s capacity to deliver safe potable water to millions of Lagos residents.
The intervention also reflects the state’s broader commitment to investing in critical public infrastructure as part of efforts to support public health, economic development and sustainable urban growth.
As installation works progress and modern systems replace obsolete infrastructure, the Iju Waterworks is being repositioned to continue serving as a vital component of Lagos State’s water supply network.
More than a century after it first began supplying water to Lagos, the historic facility is entering a new phase, one focused on resilience, modernisation and long-term sustainability.
With the ongoing rehabilitation, the Lagos State Government aims not only to preserve a landmark of engineering history but also to strengthen the infrastructure required to meet the water needs of present and future generations.
