By Abdullahi Lukman
Lagos State government has sealed a
partnership with an international consortium comprising Belstar and ENKA to overhaul the state’d water infrastructure.
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) marks the commencement of a project focused on the rehabilitation and expansion of water supply works across the state.
The State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said that the initiative directly addresses the critical water infrastructure challenges plaguing Lagos.
The project’s scope includes the construction of entirely new water treatment facilities and distribution networks, alongside the rehabilitation and modernization of existing ones.
This dual approach, categorized as “Green Field” for new constructions and “Brown Field” for rehabilitations, promises to deliver a reliable and sustainable water supply to communities currently facing inadequate access.
Wahab emphasized the state government’s commitment to ensuring strict compliance with all relevant social and safety regulations throughout the project, adding that the establishment of new waterworks is a key strategy to ease persistent distribution network issues that have affected water supply efficiency.
The Managing Director of the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), Engr. Mukhtaar Tijani, said the corporation will work hand-in-hand with the Belstar-ENKA consortium, providing essential developmental support, technical expertise, and seamless stakeholder coordination.
Engr. Tijani expressed his optimism that the project will not only extend access to potable water to underserved populations but will also significantly contribute to the eradication of water-related diseases within the state.
Representing the international consortium, Mr. Tewodros Polk, the Group Managing Director of Belstar Capital, conveyed the consortium’s unwavering dedication to the successful execution of the project.
He assured the Lagos State Government that Belstar and ENKA will leverage their combined strengths and technical prowess to ensure long-term productivity and superior service delivery.
Polk also made a commitment to utilize local subcontractors throughout the project’s 36-month duration, a move intended to foster local capacity building and promote sustainable development within the state.
The water infrastructure overhaul will be executed using an Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Finance (EPC+F) model, with insurance backing from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.
