Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reiterated his administration’s resolve to complete the 70 million-gallon-per-day Adiyan Water Project which was abandoned for years.
Sanwo-Olu made the promise at the fifth Lagos International Water Conference.
He noted that the project would have to be completed in the next one year.
The conference had as theme ‘Financing Water and Sanitation for a Greater Lagos’.
Sanwo-Olu highlighted the importance of financial resources in achieving the goals of water security, accessibility and sustainability.
He said: “For us, it is not just about lip service. We want to move away from rhetorics, we want action. Let it not be just a talk shop where we exchange ideas and nothing happens in the next one year.
“We have been training our officials and that has not given solutions. Let’s stop this rhetoric. We want to build partnerships; let us identify what needs to be done.
“Whatever that will take us, we are going to complete the 7 million gallons-per-day Adiyan water treatment plant.
“If I’m making myself an example, I am looking for partners. It has always been proposals, we need people who are committed. Water does not have enemies but unfortunately, we are the enemies of water.
“I’m hoping the conversation we are having here today and tomorrow will be a convergent working solution. In the next 12 to 18 months, we want to change the narrative.”
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, who spoke as a special guest of honour, said Lagos, being a mini Nigeria, must get right.
“If Lagos gets it right, Nigeria will get it right,” he noted.
He added: “Lagos has its challenges when it comes to water sanitation. Water is not just a basic need but also crucial to healthy living.
“Lagos faces multi-facetted challenges as regards water sanitation as a result of rapid population growth and infrastructural challenges.”
The Minister said addressing these challenges requires concerted efforts and innovative strategies.
He advised community-based and private partnership to address the water sanitation challenges, saying micro finance institutions could provide loans in this regard.
