Abandoned Adiyan Water Project: Sanwo-Olu Promises Completion Before End of Term

Segun James

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has promised to complete the much delayed 70 million-gallon-per-day Adiyan Water Project which had been abandoned for several years, saying the years of rhetoric are over.

The governor who made the promise at the 5th Edition of the Lagos International Water Conference at Eko Hotel, Lagos, disclosed that the completion of the project is of crucial importance to achieving his government’s agenda.

Sanwo-Olu said: “For us it is not just about lip service. We want to move away from rhetoric; we want action. Let it not be just a talk shop where we exchange ideas and nothing happens in the next year.

“We have been training our officials and that has not given solutions. Let’s stop this rhetoric. We want to build a partnership, let us identify what needs to be done.

“Whatever that will take us, we are going to complete 7 million gallons per day of Adiyan water treatment plant. If I’m making myself an example, I’m 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 convergence of working solutions. In the next 12 to 18 months, we want to change the narrative.”

Speaking as a special guest of honour at the event, the minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, said that Lagos being a mini-Nigeria requires that she must get it right, noting: “If Lagos gets it right, Nigeria will get it right.”

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-faceted challenges as regards water sanitation as a result of rapid population growth and infrastructural challenges.”

The minister stated that addressing these challenges requires concerted efforts and innovative strategies.

He also urged the state government to align with the federal government in its efforts to ensure water sanitation in the state.

The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the conference served as a platform to come together, share knowledge, and explore innovative solutions to address the challenges of sustainable water management.

The Commissioner noted: “As the population of Lagos continues to grow, the demand for water resources escalates, placing significant pressure on our existing infrastructure and systems. We must find sustainable and innovative ways to finance and manage our water resources to meet the needs of our growing population.

“We recognize that adequate financing is essential to improve water infrastructure, strengthen governance frameworks, promote water conservation, and enhance the resilience of our water systems in the face of climate change and other challenges.

“During this conference, we have the opportunity to learn from experts, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from around the world who have successfully implemented innovative financing mechanisms for water management We will explore various modules, such as public-private partnerships, sustainable financing strategies, and innovative technology solutions that can help us overcome the financial barriers.

While urging participants to actively engage in the discussions, Wahab stated that together, “we can explore new avenues for financing, identify best practices, and build partnerships that will pave the way for a greater Lagos.

“Let us use this conference as a platform to not only discuss financing mechanisms but also to address broader issues related to water governance, capacity building, and community engagement. We must ensure that our actions are inclusive, participatory, and equitable, leaving no one behind in our pursuit of water security.”

In her welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO), Mrs. Funke Adepoju, said: “Over the next two days, we will engage in insightful discussions and deliberate on innovative financing models and strategies.

“These conversations are crucial and intentional for Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu’s administration as we seek to achieve sustainable development in the water and sanitation sector and ensure that every resident of Lagos has access to these essential services.

She added: “In setting new benchmarks for progress, our specific objectives include developing innovative financing models to achieve sustainable water and sanitation solutions in Lagos, creating a comprehensive WASH framework that includes private service providers and harnesses local private investment through targeted PPP models, and fostering collaboration and partnerships to ensure effective implementation of these strategies.

“A robust and effective regulatory framework is critical to realize these objectives. At this point, it is essential to note that the nature of the water and sanitation sector requires implementing a pragmatic regulatory framework with high-level political championship and support.

“This provides the enabling framework and, not least, credibility and certainty to a sector in dire need of more resources from both the public and private sectors and, perhaps significantly, an assurance of better and effective use of the existing resources.”