Reactions have since then trailed the deceased action:
@AkposJim said: “Omo I feel her pain. When people depends on you and things are not working right the way they should and no one to call for help”
@samtalks__ advised: “guys please there is no shame in crying for help, especially family and close friends, people are so caught up in their own worlds these days they can’t maintain a relationship/friendship, sometime all you need is someone to Hug you and give you a little hope to keep pushing! ”
@adu_faye stated: “You try to work legit and all work your ass off. Monday to Sunday no rest and all the money you work for a month can’t feed you 101, can’t buy you clothes, or pay your domestic bills, the country is gone. It’s so hard, the economy is harsh , YHWH”
Mattresses and other bedding products manufacturer Mouka has partnered the Lagos State Government to support the drive for the reduction in maternal, neonatal, and child morbidity and mortality rates, which is the State’s rationale for celebrating the annual Baby of the Year.
Under the partnership, which was in furtherance of Mouka’s commitment to adding comfort to life, families with babies born on New Year’s Day 2024 were honoured.
Celebrations were also held simultaneously in 10 states across the federation as members of the Mouka commercial team gathered at various government hospitals in Lagos, Plateau, Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Delta, Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, and Ogun States to make the presentations on behalf of the company.
This 2024 edition welcomed the first set of newborns across three Maternal and Child Centres within general hospitals across Lagos Sate.
Mouka joined the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana lbijoke Sanwo-Olu, at these public health facilities during which it presented gifts to mothers of the first babies at the Badagry General Hospital, Amuwo-Odofin General Hospital and Apapa General Hospital.
The gifts included diapers, customized teddy bears and Mouka Dreamtime baby mattresses.
The Oluwagbenga twins, both male by Mrs. Lateefat Oluwagbenga, were the First Babies of the Year at the Lagos State Maternal and Child Centre, Amuwo-Odofin.
The first baby was born at 12:07 a.m. and weighed 3kg while the second baby delivered at 12:09 am weighed 3.5kg. Baby Olaniyi, a male who weighed 2.6 kg at exactly 12:38 am by Mrs. Rachael Olaniyi was the First Baby of the Year at the General Hospital, Apapa.
In her remark, Dr. Sanwo-Olu said welcoming a newborn is a symbolic and significant event that brings forth the assurances that human heritage is carried on to the next generation.
“We are here today not just to celebrate new life but also to seek opportunities to make a difference in the lives of the people who need our assistance. Bearing in mind always that our show of love, kindness, and compassion is only an extension of gratitude to our maker for the same grace granted to us,’ she said.
While congratulating the parents of the newly born, the First Lady commended all philanthropists, as well as corporate bodies like Mouka for being consistently involved in the partnerships toward complementing the vision and efforts of the State Government in the health sector over the years.
The First Lady was accompanied by the wife of the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Oluremi Hamzat, Dr. Abayomi Majekodunmi, Commissioner for Health in Lagos State, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Lagos State, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye and other top government functionaries during the visit.
Commenting on the initiative, Mouka’s Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Dimeji Osingunwa, said as the promoter of quality sleep, the brand continues to advocate for a healthy sleep culture, especially from childhood. This is why Mouka donated dreamtime mattresses, specially designed with children in mind.
The dreamtime mattress is water-resistant yet breathable to keep the body cool and comfortable through the night. It is also made with the right foam density to keep children comfortable while sleeping.
Osingunwa pointed out that quality sleep is associated with healthy physical and cognitive development in children, which is why it associates itself with the worthy program of the Lagos First Lady, bringing succor to families of first babies.
Corroborating Osingunwa, the National Sales Manager, Mr. Oladimeji Alabi, also said the gifts were the company’s way of celebrating families who have new babies on the 1st of January, an initiative aimed at adding value to life and making the babies sleep on comfortable children’s mattresses designed for improved well-being.
Expressing their joy, the parents of the 1st baby born at the General Hospital Apapa, Mr. Rafiu and his wife, Mrs. Rachael Olaniyi, commended Mouka for the valuable gift items.
Similarly, an elated Mrs. Lateefat Oluwagbenga who delivered the twin boys at the Maternal and Child Centre in Amuwo-Odofin, was overwhelmed by the gifts from Mouka while she applauded the child-friendly company for its goodwill.
Parents of newborns in Jos University Teaching Hospital, Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna; Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano; Federal Medical Centre Gombe, Edo Specialist Hospital, University Teaching Hospital Owerri, Federal Medical Centre Aba, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, and Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital also expressed their heartfelt gratitude to the brand.
Over 1,000 vulnerable and indigent persons in Lagos State have benefitted from the 2024 Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI).
The beneficiaries got their business tools yesterday at the Blue Roof, LTV, Ikeja.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, said the MESI initiative is ‘a practical demonstration of his administration’s social inclusion policy geared towards ensuring that no one is left behind in the collective journey to the Greater Lagos dream’.
He added that the initiative would also address the plight of the less-privileged persons who daily face significant challenges. The governor noted that as the fifth largest economy in Africa, ‘it is compelling for his administration to harness the potential of the state’s diverse population to drive accelerated, sustainable and inclusive economic growth’.
He said: “Across the globe, governments, private sectors, and civil societies are exploring better ways to achieve poverty reduction and accelerate women empowerment through indigenous economic development strategies.
“Empowering indigent and vulnerable residents in requires a multi-faceted approach, addressing immediate needs and focusing on long-term solutions. This is why the government is earnestly developing Social Safety Nets through various programmes, offering direct assistance such as cash transfers, food vouchers, healthcare subsidies and access to quality education, alleviating immediate hardships and improving citizens overall well-being.
“This administration is therefore committed to improveing skills development and education, enhancing skilled acquisition training and adult education to empower residents with qualitative and valuable skills.
“The government aims to increase employability and open up opportunities for income generation through collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Building a successful nation is not solely the duty of an individual, but a collective task. We must work hand in hand to ensure the sustainable growth of these micro-enterprises and provide support to those who need it the most.”
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) Mrs. Cecilia Dada said the MESI marks an important milestone in the government’s efforts to alleviate poverty and empower the most vulnerable members of the society.
Mrs. Dada explained that the scheme is a state government intervention and transformational programme adopted to equip residents with adequate tools for financial sustainability.
While urging the beneficiaries to take ownership and care for their startup equipment, said they will be monitored to ensure their progress is recorded and evaluated.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of empowerment tools, including milling machines, sewing machines, professional Hair-dryers, barbing clippers with sterilizing units and generators, Pop-corn machines, Sharwama grillers, among others, to the beneficiaries.
Over 1,000 vulnerable and indigent persons in Lagos State have benefitted from the 2024 Micro Enterprise Support Initiative (MESI).
The beneficiaries got their business tools today at the Blue Roof, LTV, Ikeja.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat, said the MESI initiative is ‘a practical demonstration of his administration’s social inclusion policy geared towards ensuring that no one is left behind in the collective journey to the Greater Lagos dream’.
He added that the initiative would also address the plight of the less-privileged persons who daily face significant challenges.
The governor noted that as the fifth largest economy in Africa, ‘it is compelling for his administration to harness the potential of the state’s diverse population to drive accelerated, sustainable and inclusive economic growth’.
He said: “Across the globe, governments, private sectors, and civil societies are exploring better ways to achieve poverty reduction and accelerate women empowerment through indigenous economic development strategies.
“Empowering indigent and vulnerable residents in requires a multi-faceted approach, addressing immediate needs and focusing on long-term solutions. This is why the government is earnestly developing Social Safety Nets through various programmes, offering direct assistance such as cash transfers, food vouchers, healthcare subsidies and access to quality education, alleviating immediate hardships and improving citizens overall well-being.
“This administration is therefore committed to improveing skills development and education, enhancing skilled acquisition training and adult education to empower residents with qualitative and valuable skills.
“The government aims to increase employability and open up opportunities for income generation through collaboration with relevant stakeholders. Building a successful nation is not solely the duty of an individual, but a collective task. We must work hand in hand to ensure the sustainable growth of these micro-enterprises and provide support to those who need it the most.”
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) Mrs. Cecilia Dada said the MESI marks an important milestone in the government’s efforts to alleviate poverty and empower the most vulnerable members of the society.
Dada explained that the scheme is a state government intervention and transformational programme adopted to equip residents with adequate tools for financial sustainability.
While urging the beneficiaries to take ownership and care for their startup equipment, said they will be monitored to ensure their progress is recorded and evaluated.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of empowerment tools, including milling machines, sewing machines, professional Hair-dryers, barbing clippers with sterilizing units and generators, Pop-corn machines, Sharwama grillers, among others, to the beneficiaries.
As institutions of state, part of the responsibility of the media and civil society groups is to advocate for the less privileged in society. Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial and economic powerhouse which attracts thousands immigrants daily from across the nation and from neighbouring states, have not a few of this survivalists who with no relatives in Lagos often end up sleeping under bridges or turning Lagos Lagoon shorelines to illegal shanties. Civil society groups including those seeking attention of foreign donors have often picked up the battle for these fortune-seekers. And following their persistent blackmail, successive Lagos State governments have come up with most liberal laws that are not only protective of immigrants, but that which literarily put landlords at the mercy of tenants and squatters.
I remember a few years back when Governor Babatunde Fashola wanted to clean up Lagos Lagoon shoreline to encourage tourism, the media and the human right groups challenged him to first provide alternative accommodation for the trespassers. It was as if anyone could start the erection of a structure in any state of the federation without permission from the traditional ruler or local council chairman.
What has brought the helplessness of Lagos landlords home more vividly is the ongoing protests of tenants of recently demolished Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) shopping complex opposite the Computer Village in Ikeja. As it is often the case, the sympathy of the electronic media (Channels and TVC) that reported the case live and The Punch that reported it later on its “Metro” pages was with non-law abiding tenants.
The focus of the media was on the plight of the tenants, their losses and their false claim that they were never informed of the demolition. Even after admitting notices were issued by the owner of the distressed plazas in 2019 and 2020, little was done to correct the traders’ false narrative including the claim of the chairman of Computer Village Dealers Association, Tayo Shittu who accused Lagos State government of storming the complex with about 300 policemen at 12 am to bring down the two plazas with 300 shops.
This has however forced the Lagos State government to deny having any hand in the demolition of the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) shopping complex. .In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, said: “The structure is owned by the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA), which ordered its demolition.”, adding that “those circulating the fake news that Lagos State government is demolishing Computer Village are opportunistic ethnic chauvinists who will always relish in vacuous propaganda that can fuel their fiendish mission; they will always fail in dividing Lagosians.”
What must not be lost on us was the fact that it took POWA two years to eject tenants from their plaza already declared distressed by Lagos State. And this was made possible because their husbands were able to mobilise 300 police officers to battle tenants that are ready to take laws into their own hands.
Are you still wondering why Lagos landlords are at the mercy of Lagos State’s over-pampered tenants?
Although I will not consider myself a landlord but let me share with readers my recent encounter with two young men who lived with their young families in the boys quarters vacated by my children after marriage or joining the JAPA syndrome.
The first was introduced along with his wife by one of my daughters who is a pastor. She had claimed the young man used to stay in a boys quarter directly opposite our house while all of them were in the university. Claiming their apartment was ravaged by flood, she pleaded they should be allowed to pay just about a quarter of the going rate in the estate.
First year, the young man said he could only pay half of what he agreed to pay because his cousin was wedding at home. There was another excuse the second year. But trouble started when PHCN discovered he had paid only N7k in about three and half years despite almost 24 hours power supply during which he used his air-conditioner, morning, afternoon and night since he claimed to work from home.
PHCN calculated his backlog of arrears as N1m and advised me to seek the help of police because I would have to pay if he vacates the house without settling the outstanding. Because I turned down the request for money by the police officer in charge, he had declared after a few unproductive meetings, that it was not the job of police to collect debt on behalf of PHCN or anyone for that matter. Now I have a PHCN meter I cannot use except I pay N1m.
My second nightmare was introduced to me by my neighbour. He and his young wife wanted to do naming ceremony of their first child and there was no water where they were staying in the outskirt of the estate. I also discovered he was my 300L student at University of Lagos Distance Learning Institute. I was to later personally take them in my car to their church for the naming. The baby was often kept with our house girl when the wife was going out while the husband on some occasions borrowed my car for outing. We were that close that when he had his second baby, without telling me he removed my cars , erected canopies and took control of my generator to have a party from morning till late in to the night.
Again trouble started when it was discovered part of the house including the fence behind his apartment was distressed and needed a comprehensive work which would require us vacating the building. We both agreed on when work would start and for that reason he paid for six months. Instead of moving out like me as agreed at the end of the six months, he brought a long letter from a lawyer claiming he was never given a quit notice. Initially I had thought it was a joke. I approached my neighbour who suggested a refund of the six months payment he made even after the expiration of his tenancy period. He turned down the offer insisting his lawyers would have to decide. Meanwhile he got the police involved claiming inconvenience because of materials already deposited for repairs. Even while I remain a tenant elsewhere, this young man for the next two months held everyone to ransom until the POWA strategy minus the 300 police men option was adopted.
My last example was from my lecturer and senior colleague at the University of Lagos. A tenant who occupied his uncle’s house in Ikeja GRA not only refused to pay his rent for several years, he would not allow anyone entry into the premises. Relief only came when the then military governor of the state ordered an invasion of the premises by soldiers who discovered an erection of a new structure and the conversion of the old one into an illegal drug manufacturing factory.
I think most Lagos tenants desirous of taking advantage of Lagos State tenant-friendly laws are of the same colour. The two tenants that gave me nightmare are Yoruba from one of the southwest states.
Some Lagos state residents have expressed mixed feelings as the cloud showered down the first rain in 2024.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday gathered that some parts of Surulere, Anthony and Ojuelegba experienced showers of rainfall for about 20 minutes in the morning.
Yinka Olufemi, a resident of Surulere, told NAN that she was taking her bath at about 10 a.m when she heard the sound of rainfall.
Olufemi said that she had to peep through the window to see showers of rainfall.
“First, I was excited to see the rain falling at this time of the year; however, my excitement was short-lived when I discovered that the car I spent time to wash was messed up by dust that accompanied the rainfall,” Olufemi said.
Another Lagos resident, Uche Okafor, told NAN that he was coming to Costain from Anthony Village, a suburb of Lagos, when suddenly there were showers of rainfall on the Anthony/ Ojuelegba corridor.
Some other residents wished the rain could last longer to ease off the hot weather being experienced as a result of the dry season.
Numbeo, a research firm that focuses on statistics centered around quality of life, has ranked Lagos the eighth city with the best healthcare system in Africa.
The Health Care Index is a measure of the overall quality of the healthcare system that accounts for factors such as physicians, personnel, equipment, and costs.
It provides an assessment of the infrastructure, services, and resources for healthcare that are available in a certain location.
According to the updated Health Index report from Numbeo, African cities are doing well when it comes to quality of life, cost of living, and many other socioeconomic factors that are common to cities and countries throughout the world.
In the list, Numbeo uses an elaborate algorithm to arrive at ranked Cape Town in South Africa first, Pretoria second, and Nairobi third.
Lagos State Government has rewarded members of the Emergency Flood Abatement Gang (EFAG) for their consistency and dedication to work throughout 2023.
Special Adviser to the governor on Environment Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu said the award is to motivate the team members so they will feel appreciated and thus bring the spirit of competition.
He said: “These guys do a lot of dirty work for us. When you find people in the canal, going right underneath the drainages. Without their service Lagos may be in a mess. So there is need to always appreciate them, there is dignity in appreciating them because they are very key to us.
“This award will also bring the spirit of competition so that none of them will become lazy on the job. It’s a team thing because we have them in different locations, and some won N500,000, some N400,000, based on their performance.”
“We also told the teams that won that nothing stops them from winning again in 2024, they just have to intensify and work harder.”
Permanent Secretary (Drainage Services), Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Nurudeen Shodiende, an engineer; said EFAG was established to intervene in black spots that were off the radar to ensure free traffic flow and give sucour to the environment.
He said: “The government tries to motivate its workers through recognition of efforts and performance. Members of the EFAG are ad hoc workers, but their work cannot be underestimated. So we instituted this award ceremony to make them feel among. This will also spur them to more effective work because they realise there is monetary gain at the end of the year. The award is just to ensure they see the beauty of what they are doing and that they are not being ignored. The award is for them to have fun at the end of the year.
“Other benefits they enjoy include the LASHMA health insurance and life insurance.”
Members of the EFAG team thanked the government for remembering and appreciating their work.
They promised to do more in 2024 so their reward could also be bigger.
A chief driver in the evacuation team, Alaba Jejelaye, said: “I am so happy today because every year our Permanent Secretary, Shodehinde, always recognises us. This award is so good and it will encourage us to work better. “
Youths of the Odoragunshin community, Epe, Lagos State, are seeking a youth to be installed as the traditional ruler of the town.
They had earlier staged a peaceful protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly where they requested that the eight-year vacant traditional stool of the town be filled.
In a letter submitted to the Office of Political Legislative and Civic Engagement, they emphasised the need to have a king who had the interest of the people at heart.
The youths carried placards with various inscriptions such as: ‘Gov Sanwo-Olu save us, ‘We need a better monarch in our dear town,’ ‘What is progressive community without a monarch,’ ‘We need a vibrant, youthful resourceful and energetic traditional ruler in Odoragunshin,’ ‘We say no to community violence, dictatorship and autocracy,’ ‘Rt Mudashiru Obasa save our soul from impunity and tyranny,’ ‘Let the community breath… we need fresh air,’ among others.
The Youth Leader of Odoragunshin, Ahmed Odutayo said, “We have been in the dark for over 8 years without a traditional head/ruler since the demise of the late king, Oba Julius Ogunsanya. “We are here to express our feelings over the lack of a monarch in our dear community and to seek government intervention in community affairs on chieftaincy matters that we are craving.
“It may interest you to know that, two candidates contesting for the seat of the traditional head have taken the matter to court, whereas, the community leaders and youths have called on the two candidates to settle out of court but to no avail.
“We, the concerned youths and leaders in the community hereby request for a new king outside of the two earlier contested candidates.”
Addressing the protesters, Chairman, House Committee on Local Government Administration and Community Development in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Sanni Okanlawon, representing Kosofe Constituency 1, assured that the matter would be addressed and given speedy attention in due course. “Your petition would be looked into and resolved amicably. The House is always ready to give attention to such matters as your peace and peaceful coexistence matter to us.”
• Communities get help 25 years after • We’ll soon complete projects across state – LWC MD
When we published a report few weeks ago about water challenges in Lagos State and how depraved business people were latching onto the opportunity to flood the state, Lagos Island in particular, with all manners of packaged water, the Lagos State government assured that it was working hard to end the challenges of lack of access to potable water in the state.
The government’s statement, though sounded like the usual tongue in the cheek response of state actors to media inquiry, but recent completion of Abesan water works in Alimosho local government area of the state where the people had suffered water challenges for 25 years showed that the government is walking its talk and may by so doing end the business of killer water merchants. INNOCENT DURU reports.
For the past 25 years, the residents of Abesan Estate, the largest estate in Lagos State and environs had grappled with the challenges of having clean and potable water.
The water sources, wells and boreholes are polluted by petroleum products sipping into them from burst pipes.
Consequently, the people could not use the water and had to travel many miles to buy water which they weren’t sure of its fitness for consumption.
But the people heaved a sigh of relief recently when the state government revived and recommissioned the moribund the Mosan Okunola water works at Abesan Estate.
Elated by the development, the traditional leader of Fatade area of Alimosho, High Chief Kamorudeen Amao said: “We thank God for what the Lagos state government has done. I am very happy that they have intervened in our situation. Our prayer is that God will give them the grace to maintain it.”
The water plant will provide two million gallons of water per day for the people.
Prior to the revival of the water plant, Chief Amao said: “We have been having water challenges for the past 25 years. Petrol sipping into the ground was affecting our water. When we fetch water from our boreholes, it is petrol that we would get from it. The polluted water was affecting our people.
“Personally, each time I bathed with it, I always had challenges with my skin. There have been reported cases of skin irritation by people using the water. Instead of using the water, we would rather travel some distances to fetch water.”
Asked how well they trusted the water they were going to fetch, Chief Amao said: “We still cannot vouch for the water we were fetching from other places. We just have to make do with what we have. We buy that water because we feel that it is somehow good when you drink it.”
The traditional leader of Baruwa, Alhaji Halid Baruwa was also gladdened by the intervention of the state government.
“We thank God for what the Lagos State government has done with this project,” he said as he went down memory lane to relive the hardship they had suffered as a result of not having access to clean water.
“Our water was polluted by petrol since 1998. We were always buying water. As retired civil servants, we were buying water using the meager pensions we are receiving.
“We can’t tell how good the water we were buying was because we had no opportunity of carrying out laboratory test on them. There is no any form of treatment for the water the water that the federal government provided for us, we were told is not fit for human consumption because of the iron content.”
Speaking at the re-commissioning of the project and flag off of reticulation extension in Baruwa area of Alimoso Local Government area of the state the General Manager of Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), Engineer Mukhtaar Tijani expressed joy that the project saw the light of the day in spite of challenges facing the corporation. His words: “I stand before you today with great joy and enthusiasm as we gather to witness a significant milestone in the provision of potable water to our communities. Before delving into the details of the Abesan Mini Waterworks project, let me briefly speak on some of the challenges faced by the Lagos Water corporation today.
“Lagos, with its status as one of Africa’s most densely populated cities, serves as Nigeria’s economic hub, boasting a population of over 21 million inhabitants. The Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), tasked with providing potable water in the state, has encountered hurdles over the years, including aging infrastructure, energy shortages, and operational limitations.
“In response to these challenges, the state government, under the leadership of our Governor Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, took proactive measures to revitalize and reposition the Lagos Water Corporation.
I must express our gratitude for the unwavering support from Governor Sanwo-Olu and the Hon. Commissioner of Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab. With their support we have embarked on several initiatives that will reposition the corporation for operational and commercial efficiency, such as:
● On-going emergency Intervention on Adiyan Phase I, Iju and Akute Intakes, which when completed will increase the plants (Adiyan & Iju) capacity utilization.
● On-going Rehabilitation of Isashi Waterworks and extension of Reticulation to LASU & Iba Estate
● On-going internal restructuring of the operations of Lagos water Corporation.
● On-going addition of 70MGD Adiyan Phase II Water Treatment Plant Project, which when completed will serve almost 3million of the State population with impact to the following areas (Ipaja, Ayobo, Idimi, Ikotun, Isolo, Kirikiri, Amuwo, Ajegunle, Apapa, Agege extension and boost supply to already served Lagos metropolis).
These Initiatives when concluded will significantly contribute to our goal of providing potable water to the residents of Lagos State.”
Continuing, he said: “Now, let’s shift our focus to the reason we are here today, the Abesan–Baruwa Water Supply Scheme. Recognizing the immediate need to address water supply challenges in the Abesan Housing Estate, the Lagos Water Corporation embarked on a targeted approach to solve this problem in the most efficient manner possible.
“Two key water sources, Mosan Okunola 2MGD Waterworks in Abesan Estate and the Adiyan Phase I Waterworks, supplied water to this area. Knowing that Adiyan Phase I waterworks is currently undergoing rehabilitation and will be unable to operate at optimal capacity until the conclusion of the rehabilitation, we shifted our focus to the non-operational Mosan Okunola Plant. The restoration of the plant became a priority for us. The extensive rehabilitation work done on the plant includes but is not limited to the rehabilitation of existing electro-mechanical infrastructure such as pumps, drilling of new boreholes, and power equipment upgrades including a new transformer and earthing system.
“I am pleased to announce that through the hard work and collaborative efforts of the contractor Aquadrill Nigeria Ltd and the project team led by Engr Lawal of LWC, the operational capacity of the Mosan Okunola 2MGD Waterworks has been successfully restored. In addition to this, the 5km reticulation network around the estate is now energized, as we have carried out significant repairs to the pipe network over the past 6 weeks and as we speak we have over 5 metered customers receiving water from this water treatment plant in Abesan Estate.
“At the Abesan Estate Gate on Ipaja Road, we have connected this water treatment plant to the Baruwa community who has suffered significant ground water issues in recent times. The successful linkage of the Mosan Okunola Plant with Baruwa community now allows us to supply water to specific areas, including Baruwa compound, Taiwo close, Fatade Road, Sule Street, Oyewole Street, and Pipeline Road. Looking ahead, we plan to extend the pipe reticulation within Baruwa, covering approximately 3km. This expansion will positively impact areas such as Asalu Lawal Street, Ajibola Street, Remilekun Street, Odubakin Street, Adebanjo Street, Kareem Street, and more.”
The MD went on to appreciate the host community, saying: “I want to extend my gratitude to the residents of Abesan and Baruwa for their input and cooperation during our test running phase, where valuable feedback was received and leakages were reported by residents, we most especially appreciate individuals like Mrs. Shola, Mr. Sakaraya, Mr. Remi, and others for their contributions. Special thanks to the Baale of Baruwa Community for his support during the network linkage implementation. We could not have done it without all of you.
“I am going to conclude this speech by calling for the cooperation and collaboration of the residents of Abesan and Baruwa. I call on you to reconnect to Lagos Water Corporation services and ensure prompt payment of your water bills. To incentivize this, we are offering fifty (50) free house connections on a first-come, first-serve basis. We assure you that our operational team will promptly address leakages and customer requests, ensuring continuous supply of quality, potable water to the community.
“A heartfelt thank you to our partners, including the Federal Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, USAID, WaterAid, Resilient Water Accelerator, and others. Your continued support is invaluable. We also seek your support for the timely completion of the pipe reticulation extension within Baruwa.
To our esteemed principal, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, today’s achievements were made possible through the internal revenue generated by LWC. With your continued support, we pledge to achieve even more and remain steadfast in delivering on Mr. Governor’s THEMES+ Agenda.Thank you all for being part of this success story, and we look forward to a future of improved water supply for Lagos State.”
