LAGOS/Nigeria: The Lagos State Government has assured prospective investors in its pilot Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for water supply of complete executive and legislative backing.
The pledge was made at the close of a two-day workshop for top government officials and key stakeholders in the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector, organised by the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) with support from WaterAid Nigeria.
In his welcome address, Engr. Mahmood Adegbite, Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, reaffirmed the government’s determination to tackle the state’s water supply challenges through stronger collaboration with private partners.
Adegbite admitted that Lagos currently produces only about 50 per cent of its water demand, with actual operating capacity falling below even that level, underscoring the urgency of intervention.
“What we are doing today shows we are a serious people who know we have a problem, and we are now ready to solve it. We must bring everyone together, public and private, to close the supply gap,” he said.
He disclosed that Lagos is considering the establishment of mega treatment plants to boost capacity, alongside new wastewater treatment facilities to balance future expansion.
Engr. Mukhtaar Tijani, Managing Director of LWC, said the workshop was designed to secure public understanding and buy-in for the PPP model. He noted that while LWC operates four major treatment plants and 48 micro plants, only a handful of the smaller facilities are functional, and most operate below capacity.
According to him, the first phase of the PPP will balance investments between low-income and high-income communities, with the aim of raising safe water access from less than 10 per cent today to 30–40 per cent in five years, and 70 per cent within a decade.
“Water is life, but when government cannot reliably provide it, people end up paying more to private vendors. Nobody asks the tanker driver to deliver water for free. The PPP is not privatization, it is a strategic partnership to bring in funding, expertise, and efficiency to improve service,” Tijani explained.
Dr. Adebayo Alao, Head of Lagos Programme for WaterAid Nigeria, stressed the importance of an enabling environment for investors, noting that gaps in existing laws should be reviewed to strengthen confidence in the system.
Similarly, Hon. Steven Ogundipe, Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Information, assured that lawmakers would provide full legislative support for the PPP. He pledged to convene public hearings and make necessary amendments to close legal gaps, while ensuring equitable access to water across the state.
“Water is life, and we must leave a legacy for the next generation,” Ogundipe said.
Stakeholders concluded that expanding access to potable water in Lagos requires collaborative action between government, the private sector, legislators, and civil society. With enabling laws, targeted investments, and community engagement, the LWC and its partners aim to significantly expand water coverage over the next decade.
