Residents of Odo Nla community in Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, have been engaged in the planning process of an Advanced Inclusive Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (AI-WASH) project scheduled to commence within the next two months.
The water facility project, to be executed by WaterAid Nigeria with support from DP World, will be supervised by the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
Speaking during the community engagement session held at the Odo Nla Town Hall, WaterAid Nigeria WASH Manager, Mr. Dare Oduluyi, said the initiative was designed to actively involve community members in the planning and execution stages of the project to ensure ownership, sustainability, and effective maintenance.
According to him, the project is expected to provide potable water to the various Community Development Associations (CDAs) within Odo Nla.
Mr. Oduluyi disclosed that WaterAid Nigeria would also train members of the WASH Committee (WASHCOM) and selected female technicians from the community to manage and maintain the facility without external interference.
“I have visited this community over six times to conduct underground water examinations, and it is unfortunate that there are no handwashing stations in most homes.
Only a few houses have toilets, and many residents using borehole water have never conducted quality tests on the water they consume, which poses serious health risks,” he said.
He added that water samples collected from the community had been analysed, noting that the results would be made public at the appropriate time.
On safeguarding, Mrs. Grace Uwadiale, WaterAid Nigeria’s Safeguarding Coordinator for Lagos State, stressed the need to protect vulnerable groups, particularly women, children, and persons with disabilities, before, during, and after the execution of the project.
She reaffirmed WaterAid Nigeria’s zero-tolerance policy for abuse, stating that the organisation is committed to safeguarding the dignity, safety, and well-being of all individuals in the communities it serves, including volunteers, contractors, and partners.
“We treat everyone with dignity and respect, champion equality and human rights, and remain accountable to the communities we serve.
Anyone representing WaterAid is expected to uphold the highest safeguarding and child-protection standards,” she said.
Appreciating WaterAid Nigeria for its sustained WASH interventions in Ikorodu North LCDA, the Vice Chairman of the Council, Mr. Matthew Adesanya, expressed confidence that the project would serve thousands of residents, improve living standards, reduce environmental challenges, and curb water-borne diseases in Odo Nla.
He also warned against indiscriminate dumping of refuse within the community, stating that offenders would be sanctioned.
According to him, issues such as flooding and open defecation would soon become a thing of the past if residents adopt positive behavioural changes towards WASH practices.
The AI-WASH water project is expected to be handed over to the community by April 2026.
Written by Yemisi Dada