By Bisola Adeyemo
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has stressed that every necessary effort would be made to ensure Lagos residents have access to clean and safe water.
Sanwo-Olu, who spoke at the second edition of annual International Water Conference organised by the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) held on Victoria Island, said the state government was quite aware of the 540 million gallons per day (MGD).
The governor, who spoke through his his Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said: “The Lagos State Water Supply Master Plan estimates daily water demand in the city at 540 million gallons per day (MGD) but production by the Lagos State Water Corporation (LSWC) stands at 210 MGD. This shows a clear deficit of over 300MGD, which translates to less than 40% access to clean, and safe water, Environews has gathered.
“As a government, we are not oblivious of this gap and its consequences on the health of our populace. In order to close this gap, I toured the Lagos Water Corporation Facilities at Adiyan, Iju and Akute at the inception of my administration.
“We have expended resources on these facilities, and I am happy to tell you that the Adiyan II plant that will bring additional 70 MGD to the already existing water capacity will soon become operational.
“As a government, we are not oblivious of this gap and its consequences on the health of our populace. In order to close this gap, I toured the Lagos Water Corporation Facilities at Adiyan, Iju and Akute at the inception of my administration.
“We have expended resources on these facilities, and I am happy to tell you that the Adiyan II plant that will bring additional 70 MGD to the already existing water capacity will soon become operational.”
He said the conference, with the theme: “Water Security and Investment Opportunities in Megacities: A case of Lagos State”, was targeted at harnessing how Lagos as a state and an emerging Smart City can develop ideas for water security and create investment opportunities in the water sector like other megacities.
“As you know, health and environment are two key pillars of my administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S. Development Agenda and this conference is vital to the accomplishment of some of our key deliverables for these pivotal sectors.
“With the Sustainable Development Goal 6 as our anchor, we have committed major resources to groundwater quality control, drinking water quality regulation, and packaged water service oversight. All these are being done to improve Lagosians’ productivity and quality of life.
“Through LASWARCO, we have been able to curb unwholesome water production and indiscriminate drilling of boreholes, which is a major contributor to lower aquifer and flooding,” he said.