The Lagos State Government has restated commitment to the provision of safe water, sanitation and hygiene,WASH.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu reiterated the commitment on Wednesday at Victoria Island during the opening of the 4th Lagos International Water Conference, LIWAC, with the theme: Accelerating Sanitation and Hygiene in a Megacity: Regulation and Innovation 2023″
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, the Governor explained that the commitment to improve access to clean water and sanitation was hinged on four initiatives, which include the provision of public toilets and bathrooms in each Local Government Areas, construction of community wastewater treatment plants and integrated waste management system, as well as expansion and protection of water sources to improve the city’s water supply.
“It has been estimated that Lagos by 2050 will hit a population of 40million, hence it has become crucial that we get in front of this issue and come up with sustainable strategies that will provide safe water sanitation and ensure better hygiene for the people of the State. Our administration is committed to providing easy access to safe water and hygiene, not just because it is expected of us, but because it is a fundamental human right and it falls within our welfare policy for the State.
You will however agree with me that these initiatives and several others aimed at attaining a desirable level of sanitation and hygiene in a mega city, will only achieve the expected goal if supported by a regulatory framework that promotes efficiency through innovation driven by technology. A well–designed regulatory framework that encourages private sector participation and protects the interest of all stakeholders through regulations that set clear standards, defines roles and responsibilities”
He assured the conference participants that their recommendations would be collated for actionable items as the WASH index is key to adjudging Lagos for livable suitability, which will in turn announce the State’s utmost readiness for local and international investments.
In a goodwill message, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack pointed out that Water, Sanitation and Hygiene are essential pillars for any community’s overall well-being and development and urged Lagos to do more in the WASH subsector
“I congratulate you for the exceptional efforts in bringing together professionals, experts, and stakeholders from across the globe to discuss and address the pressing challenges of the Sanitation and hygiene subsector regarding water resources, management and sustainability, your unwavering dedication is commendable. As Lagos continues to experience rapid growth and urbanisation, concerted efforts must be made to address the challenges posed by the Increasing demand for clean water and proper sanitation infrastructure” she said
In a remark, the Executive Secretary, Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, Mrs Funke Adepoju said the conference is part of a conscious effort by the Lagos Water Regulatory Commission to address the myriad of challenges confronting the sector, suggest solutions to effective sanitation management, and attract investments into the sector with its diverse economic possibilities, while also facilitating the achievement of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal 6.
Adepoju said ‘’We cannot take our eyes of the ball, because WASH has a direct nexus to health, we want to achieve a livable city, but due to constant population growth, particularly in the last couple of decades, water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure development has fallen far short of the requirements for the current population in spite of huge capital investments in the sector. This has largely contributed to the limited access to adequate sanitation and hygiene services for the majority of the inhabitants of the state who have to create alternative means of meeting their sanitation and hygiene needs”
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