The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, urged the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to immediately declare a state of emergency in the water sector.
It also demanded that the Lagos House of Assembly convene an emergency session on the reported production status in nearly all the waterworks in Lagos.
Unconfirmed reports indicate that nearly all the waterworks in the state have been grounded in the last three weeks and no production going on.
CAPPA made the call at the public presentation of the COVID-19 and water report entitled “One Year After Damning Report, Water Shortage Persists in Lagos,” which coincides with the commemoration of this year World Water Day.
In his address, CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said this year’s World Water Day’s theme, “Valuing Water”, “reinforces their conviction that the water sector must be salvaged from for-profit entities and their promoters in government, who have made it virtually impossible for our people to access safe and affordable water.”
Oluwafemi explained that it was contradictory for a government that embarked on public health messages broadcast on radio and television, asking residents to maintain a high sense of hygiene by regular washing of hands to curb the spread of COVID-19 but refused to invest public funds in water infrastructure in the state.
According to him, some of the waterworks visited include Alimosho, Amuwo Odofin, Maryland, Mushin, Ikorodu, Ikoyi, Obalende, Otta-Ikosi and Onikan. None of them are functioning in optimal capacity.
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