…engages stakeholders on Pilot PPP for water corporation
The Lagos State government has called for investments in the water sector through public-private partnerships to increase water service delivery in the state.
The state government made the call at a high-level Stakeholders’ Engagement on the Pilot Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for the Lagos Water Corporation, convened by the Corporation with the support of WaterAid, Nigeria.
The stakeholders engagement convened under the theme: “Attracting Investment for Improved Water Supply in Lagos State through Public-Private Partnership” brought together a cross-section of stakeholders, including sector experts, community leaders, private investors, CSO partners, and development partners.
While delivering a welcome address, the Special Adviser, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Rotimi Akodu, highlighted that the initiative is a critical step in addressing the state’s growing water demand, driven by rapid urbanisation and population growth.
Akodu pointed out that the initiative reflects the State’s recognition that achieving universal access to potable water requires both substantial capital investment and operational efficiency – elements that can be enhanced through strategic private sector collaboration.
In his remarks, the PS Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite, stressed that Lagos has made commendable progress in expanding water infrastructure, but the scale of current challenges, from ageing facilities to the impact of climate change, demands innovative partnerships that prioritise sustainability, resilience, and accountability.
The Managing Director of Lagos Water Corporation, Engr. Mukhtaar Tijani reiterated the State Government’s vision to transform the water sector into a modern, efficient, and sustainable system capable of meeting the current and future needs of residents, supporting economic growth, and aligning with global best practices in water resource management.
Mukhtaar noted that the PPP framework offers a unique opportunity to combine public oversight with private sector innovation, operational efficiency, and investment capacity to boost production, reduce water losses, and ensure efficient distribution to underserved communities.
The Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, Evelyn Mere, had earlier, in her goodwill message at the gathering, called on the State Government to scale up the Akilo water scheme management model that is aimed at achieving sustainable urban water supply, enjoining the government to create an enabling environment built on an effective and sustainable legal and regulatory framework to assure investors of their Return on Investment (ROI).
