The Special Adviser to the Governor on Parastatals Monitoring Office (PMO), Mr. Afolabi Ayantayo, has declared that sustained provision and supply of potable water to Lagos residents is one of the essential ingredients for Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy.
Ayantayo made this assertion during a recent fact finding courtesy visit to the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) Headquarters, Water House, Ijora – Lagos.
The Special Adviser expressed concern about the challenging state of operations since his last visit to the Corporation in October 2019, advising the management of the Corporation to address the infrastructure challenges in order to provide potable water to Lagosians.
His words: “Water is very essential for human and plant existence, as Water is Life. I urge the Corporation to develop a sustainable roadmap that can work to provide and sustain potable water supply in the State”.
Noting that the Corporation needed funds to improve her operations, the Special Adviser suggested that LWC should explore Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) as a viable option, as the State cannot solely fund all water projects because of other competing needs in other sectors such as Works and Infrastructure, Education, Health, among others.
He advised the Corporation to seek grants from the International Development Agency to bridge the infrastructural gap hindering the provision of water in the State.
“The Management should also forward a detailed response to the PMO the questionnaires designed to identify and address the challenges militating against the Corporation’s efficient service delivery”, he said.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the PMO, Mrs. Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu advised LWC Management to explore many windows available for funding and seek partnerships that will assist in turning the fortune of the Corporation around in line with the Health and Environment pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda.
The LWC Chief Operating Officer (COO), Engr. Deji Johnson, who represented the Managing Director/CEO, Engr. Muminu Adekunle Badmus, thanked Mr. Ayantayo, Mrs. Oke-Osanyintolu as well as other members of the visiting team and assured them of speedy and accurate action on the PMO’s suggestions and requests.
