By Abdullahi Lukman
The Lagos State House of Assembly has pledged to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations that funds allocated for water projects in the state have not been properly used to address the ongoing water crisis.
Hon. Shabi Rasheed Adekola, Chair of the House Committee on Environment (Parastatals), revealed this during a meeting with six civil society organizations who petitioned the Assembly against a proposed pilot Public Private Partnership (PPP) by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC).
The groups opposed the PPP, arguing that previous budgets meant for water improvements were mismanaged.
The petitioners, including Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF), and Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), highlighted several questionable expenditures.
These include N4 billion for the Otta-Ikosi waterworks project, awarded in 2007 but still non-functional; N3 billion spent on an Independent Power Plant with ongoing fuel costs of N180 million monthly; and hundreds of millions spent on the rehabilitation of various waterworks such as Iju, Adiyan, Ishasi, and numerous mini and micro waterworks.
The groups demanded recovery of these funds to be reinvested in sustainable water projects, citing the continued poor state of water services in Lagos.
Hon. Adekola denied that the House had approved the pilot PPP but confirmed ongoing discussions aimed at finding lasting solutions and securing sustainable funding for the water sector.
He assured the petitioners that an investigation into the alleged misappropriations would begin promptly and expressed openness to considering alternative models like the Public-Public Partnership (PuP) proposed by the groups.
Representatives from the petitioning organizations who attended the meeting included Philip Jakpor (RDI), Barrister Chima Williams (EDEN), Reverend Kolade Fadahunsi (EWNA/BCA), Vicky Onyekuru (Child Health Organisation), alongside members of CFSF and NELCCI.
