…State partners with WaterAid, private sector to boost hygiene, access to clean water
By HeapNews
Resilience Water Accelerator (RWA) Mr. Phillips Obosi; Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite; Head of Policy, Advocacy and Communication, WaterAid Nigeria, Mr. Kolawole Banwo; Special Advicer on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; Lagos State WaterAid Programme Lead, Dr. Adebayo Alao and Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji, during a round table collaboration meeting between WaterAid and Lagos State Ministry of The Environment and Water Resources, held on the 14th of March, 2025 at the Ministry of The Environment and Water Resources Conference room, Secretariat Alausa Ikeja, Lagos State.
The Lagos State Government, in collaboration with WaterAid and private operators, has announced plans to build 350 additional public toilets across the state to curb open defecation and improve sanitation.
Speaking at a media roundtable over the weekend, the Special Adviser on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, disclosed that work had already commenced on some of the toilets, including site identification.
He emphasized the state’s three-pronged strategy to tackle open defecation: infrastructure provision, massive advocacy, and enforcement.
“We are ensuring that Lagosians embrace public toilets. This will not only promote hygiene but also reduce healthcare costs for both the government and residents,” he stated.
The adviser also highlighted that the state was working to provide an alternative water supply instead of relying on boreholes, which he described as unsustainable.
“Borehole drilling is not something we are proud of, and we are eager to move away from it. Soon, Adiyan Water Works will begin generating over 100 million gallons of pipe-borne water daily to serve the state,” he explained.
The Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite, raised concerns about residents using state-supplied water without payment, stressing that a regulatory framework for tariff setting was being developed.
“The government has never aimed to profit from water provision, but residents must understand that potable water cannot be free. Conversations around tariffs are ongoing,” he said.
Dr. Adebayo Alao, the Lagos State Programme Lead for WaterAid, revealed that the organization aims to provide basic Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) access to 10 million residents directly and 17 million indirectly by 2028.
He also noted a $1 million donation from Kimberly Clark towards hygiene education for 45,000 lactating mothers and adolescent girls in Ojodu and Ikorodu North.
The Lagos State Government reaffirmed its commitment to providing potable water, with ongoing rehabilitation of major waterworks, including Akilo Water Works, to enhance urban water supply.
Dr. Gaji Omobolaji, Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, expressed confidence in the administration’s ability to significantly improve water access before its tenure ends.
“We are working tirelessly to put in place modern infrastructure that will benefit all Lagosians,” he assured.