By Abdullahi Lukman
WaterAid Nigeria, in partnership with the Lagos State Government, has launched a five-year $2.5 million “TeamWater Nigeria” project aimed at improving access to clean water in Lagos.
The initiative will focus on rehabilitating the Ojokoro waterworks and expanding pipeline infrastructure in the northern operations of the Lagos Water Corporation.
Officials say the project is expected to restore water supply to about 72,000 customers and extend services to an additional 28,000 residents through upgrades to the Iju/Adiyan network.
According to Titilola Oridami-Bright, the project is designed to address growing water access challenges in a rapidly expanding city where only about 10 per cent of over 22 million residents currently receive municipal water.
WaterAid Nigeria Country Director, Evelyn Mere, said the government-led initiative builds on previous interventions and is supported by global partnerships, including contributions from WaterAid offices in the UK and the United States.
Funding was raised through a global crowdfunding campaign involving digital creators.
She stressed the importance of transparency and adherence to best practices during implementation to ensure long-term impact.
Also speaking, Amaka Godfrey of WaterAid
International highlighted the need for sustainability, urging residents to connect to the system and pay for services to support maintenance and operations.
Chairman of Ojokoro Local Council Development Area, Oluyemisi Rosiji, assured stakeholders of community support, noting that local leaders would mobilise residents to embrace the project.
Earlier, Managing Director of the Lagos Water Corporation, Mukhtar Tijani, said the project would improve water quality, reduce losses, and expand supply, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to bridging Lagos’ water access gap.