The problem of lack of access to potable water in Lagos

Adeola Ogunrinde

More than ten million Lagosians lack access to potable water. Mellisa Jones, Mission Director of the United  States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Nigeria, revealed at a two-day Lagos International Water Conference in June 2024.’

Also, USAID added that 20 million people in Lagos have no access to environmental sanitation.

The timing of USAID’s revelation on the chronic water deficit in Nigeria’s second most populous state, coincided with the cholera outbreak in Lagos in early June 2024, highlighting the relationship between access to clean water, sanitation and cholera caused by drinking contaminated water or food.

However, Lagos State has five water stations that are supposed to supply Lagosians with clean water – Iju Waterworks, established in 1910; Ishasi, established in 1976, Adiyan Waterworks – 1991 (uncompleted), Akute Intake – 1991 and the 51 mini and macro water works. 

So, why is the Lagos State Water Corporation unable to meet the needs of many communities in and around Lagos which continue to groan because of inadequate water in their locality?

According to the Lagos State Water Corporation, the installed production capacity of the five water stations is 210 million gallons per day which is less than half of the estimated daily average demand of 540 million gallons required to cater adequately to the needs of Lagosians.

 Is the Lagos water shortage a function of lack of funds or inadequacy? 

A recent report by the Lagos Water Corporation indicated that in the last five years from 2019 to 2023, N16 billion was allocated to provide potable water to residents. A breakdown of the allocations shows that N3,208,982,257 was assigned in 2019, N6,465,845,812 in 2020, N3,714,446,910 in 2021, N2,510,713,656.75 in 2022, and N949,030,492 in 2023, amounting to N16,848,965,127.75 in total, allocations received.

So, despite this huge spending, why has water remained inaccessible to as many as 10 million Lagos residents?

According to a report by WaterAid, an international non-governmental organisation, Lagos State must commit ₦300 billion in spending every year to reach its universal access to water target under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, USAID is not leaving the state to its water predicament. It is funding the Lagos Urban WASH Activity (LUWASH), a $44.9 million, five-year program that seeks to expand and improve urban WASH service delivery and infrastructure in Lagos. Launched in January 2023, the goal of the LUWASH Project is to support the enhancement of institutional frameworks and governance to ensure that the 24 million residents of Lagos have access to safe, climate-resilient water and sanitation services.

The project also aims to implement activities focused on strengthening governance, increasing accountability, and improving the financial and technical capabilities of public water utilities and private sector providers in Lagos. 

WESTERN POST spoke to some Lagosians about the challenges of getting water. Abiodun Sansa who lives in Abesan Estate said she has stopped paying for water at the Abesan Mini Water Station after they failed to keep their promise. “I just stopped buying water from them after they failed to give me water for months. How long will I continue to wait, I have to look for a better solution to the water problem, ” she said.

In another interview, Ms Yemisi Ayodele who lives in Ikorodu, said she has never received water from Lagos Water Corporation since she moved to Ikorodu, 18 years ago.

Ms Ayodele said, “ I have never gotten water from Lagos Water Corporation since I moved here 18 years ago with my family. I have always relied on the borehole water dug by my husband, if not for the borehole, we would have suffered getting water here.”

Another Lagos resident who lives in Lawanson narrated the challenges of getting water. Mr Rotimi said the water corporation at Olatiwela and Abayomi Street has not been working for years, and those living in the axis have to rely on boreholes to get water.

At the Water Conference in June, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu promised to complete the 70 million-gallon-per-day Adiyan Water Projects, saying the years of rhetoric are over. Lagosians would no doubt look forward to this promise being fulfilled even as more needs to be done regarding funding which is currently poor in addition to ensuring the efficient utilization of allocated funds.

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