The state is challenged by increasing demand for clean water.
By Ademu Usman Idakwo
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged the exploration of sustainable long-term financing avenues to comprehensively address the state’s safe water deficit.
Governor Sanwo-Olu stated this on Friday at a side meeting with the theme: “Valuing Water: A Lifeline in Climate Transition”, organised by the Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum and Sustainable Market Initiative at the ongoing 28th session of the Conference of Parties (COP28) at Dubai Exhibition Centre, United Arab Emirates, UAE.
The governor who expressed the need for sustainable financing to meet the city’s growing demand for safe water, said Lagos with 22 million people faces growing demands for safe water.
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He added that 700 million gallons of water are needed to optimally meet the daily needs of the people— presently supplying 210 million due to infrastructural challenges.
He, however, called for urgent global support for the provision of safe and abundant water in the state, which he said is not only a social service but a necessity for the public health and safety of the people irrespective of location or gender.
Sanwo-Olu bemoaned the state inability to utilise 40 per cent of its installed water facilities despite being surrounded by abundant water bodies.
“It is a time to bridge strategic partnerships with the right organisations, which is why I highlighted the urgency for equitable global investment in water projects.
“Lagos is challenged by increasing demand for clean water, and the inadequacy of supply infrastructure could raise disease vulnerability in underserved communities.”
Sanwo-Olu equally explained that his administration has allocated resources to the sector from the state budget, stressing that the intervention is hardly enough to serve the needs of the residents.
“Four years ago, I made a commitment of $100 million, but this is like a drop, given the number of investments required to fully explore the potential in the sector,” he disclosed.
