Groups insist Public-Public model offers more democratic solution to water crisis
By Bunmi Yekini
A coalition of civil society organisations has declined an invitation from the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) to discuss its proposed pilot Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for mini and micro waterworks, insisting that the initiative falls short of genuine stakeholder engagement.
In a letter addressed to the LWC Managing Director, Engr. Mukhtaar Tijani, dated September 17, 2025, the groups, including Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF), Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), Child Health Organisation, Ecumenical Water Network Africa/Blue Communities Africa (EWNA/BCA), and New Life Community Care Initiative (NELCCI), expressed strong reservations about the PPP arrangement.
“We observe that the stated objectives of this meeting do not address the concerns we raised at the September 9, 2025 meeting with the Lagos House of Assembly, where we expressed disinterest in the PPP as the silver bullet to the Lagos water crisis,” the groups wrote.
They argued that instead of pursuing a private sector-driven approach, the Lagos State Government and the LWC should consider a Public-Public Partnership model that prioritizes democratic control of water and broad community participation.
“Recall that the Chair of the Committee on Environment (Parastatal), Hon. Shabi Rasheed Adekola, at the meeting mentioned the deficit in stakeholder consultation and the need to address it. In doing that, we anticipated an open-ended meeting, not a closed space which this proposed meeting represents,” the letter noted.
The coalition, therefore, urged the Corporation to heed the advice of the Lagos Assembly by convening a “truly people-focused consultation” where diverse voices, including civil society, community representatives, and other stakeholders, can propose inclusive solutions to the water challenges facing Lagos residents.
Signed by representatives including Philip Jakpor of RDI, Comrade Sani Baba of CFSF, Barrister Chima Williams of EDEN, Florence Ifeanyi-Aneke of NELCCI, Very Rev. Kolade Fadahunsi of EWNA/BCA, and Lady Vicky Onyekuru of Child Health Organisation, the letter reaffirmed the groups’ commitment to water as a human right, not a commodity.
“We respectfully decline this invitation and urge the LWC management to convene a genuine stakeholder dialogue. Lagosians deserve nothing less,” the coalition said.