State seeks private sector innovation and investment to meet rising demand
By Bunmi Yekini
The Lagos State Government has launched a pilot Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative aimed at improving water service delivery, as part of efforts to meet the needs of its rapidly growing population.
The two-day stakeholders’ engagement, held in Lagos under the theme “Attracting Investment for Improved Water Supply in Lagos State through Public-Private Partnership”, was organised by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) with the support of WaterAid Nigeria.
Special Adviser to the Ministry for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Rotimi Akodu, said the project was a crucial step toward addressing the state’s surging water demand.
“Achieving universal access to potable water requires both substantial capital investment and operational efficiency, elements that can be enhanced through strategic PPP,” Akodu said.
Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Mr. Mahamood Adegbite, acknowledged progress in expanding infrastructure but warned that current challenges, from aging facilities to climate change, required more innovative approaches.
“The scale of our challenges demands partnerships that prioritise sustainability, resilience, and accountability,” he said. “We urge stakeholders to support this new structure for the greater good of our citizens.”
Dr. Omobolaji Gaji, Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, stressed that dwindling foreign support and funding shortfalls made private sector engagement more urgent than ever.
“There is no better time to partner with the private sector to bring in funding and improve water services than now,” Gaji noted.
Managing Director of the Lagos Water Corporation, Mr. Mukhtaar Tijani, assured that the PPP was not about privatising water resources but about enhancing quality and access.
“The PPP framework offers a unique opportunity to combine public oversight with private sector innovation, operational efficiency, and investment capacity,” Tijani explained.
“We are starting with selected mini and micro waterworks to complement government investments and maintain facilities to the highest standards.”
He added that the state was committed to transparent procurement and robust regulatory oversight, with a deliberate focus on underserved communities.
Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, Evelyn Mere, called for the expansion of the Akilo water scheme model, which she said could revive over 48 moribund waterworks in the state.
“PPP remains a feasible panacea to improve urban water supply in Lagos. The Akilo waterworks we are rehabilitating will be inaugurated in September, and it should be a model for resuscitating others,” Mere said.
Stakeholders at the meeting commended the government’s inclusive approach and its willingness to engage both communities and private investors in shaping the future of Lagos’ water supply.