The Nation Newspaper

Tag: water supply

  • Organised labour berates Lagos over water supply

    Organised labour berates Lagos over water supply

    Organised Labour has accused the Lagos State Government of cutting water supply to residents in the past two weeks.

    This, according to the workers, was an indirect way by the government of promoting privatisation in the state water sector under the guise that public expenditure on public services is not only wasteful, but also inefficient to run a modern state.

    The workers under the umbrella of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil  Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE), however, said the action of the state government contradicts its earlier agreement with the union and other stakeholders.

    “The action of Lagos State Government has become more worrisome in view of the fact that the state government had promised in a letter responding to the agitations of the Union, Civil Society Organisations and the International Community against privatisation of its water agency that it will not privatise its water,” its General Secretary, Yusuf Lekke Zambu said.

    He said the state government was subjecting the people to hardship by refusing to provide them water.

    Noting that the action was against the principle of good governance, AUPCTRE warned that it would mobilise its members, other civil society organisations and the international community to  protest if the government fails to restore water supply.

    Zambu said: “This is contrary to avowed promises made to Lagosians during the 2015 governorship electioneering campaign that the APC government, if elected will promote good governance by providing basic amenities and social services that will promote the welfare and well being of the people of Lagos State; disappointedly, the reverse is now the case.’’

    He continued: “It is on the strength of the above that the union sees the current non-supply of water to the good people of Lagos for the past ten days as a way of introducing privatisation through the back door.

    ‘’AUPCTRE wishes to remind the government of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode that the Lagosians did not vote his government into power to impose this avoidable hardship on them and, therefore, condemns in a very strong terms the water crisis in Lagos.”

  • A boost for water supply

    A boost for water supply

    If water supply improves appreciably in the nation’s capital, the credit must go to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has donated several tools to the local water board. GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports

    Sourcing clean water has been a huge challenge in the federal capital city, but, thankfully, help has come. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has given the FCT Administration Ultrasonic water flow meters, leak detectors, pipe detectors, test meters and data loggers, among others.

    The Japanese agency also donated two 4WD vehicles to the FCTA.

    •The vehicles donated to FCTA
    •The vehicles donated to FCTA

    That should make a difference in water supply as well as the quality of the precious liquid and even the operations of personnel.

    The challenegs in water supply are sometimes blamed on  the overwhelming influx of people into the FCT.

    At the presentation of the equipment, JICA Chief Representative, Mr. Hirotaka Nakamura said in the FCT findings indicated a conservative non-water revenue or NRW of about 42.1% and a bill collection efficiency of 35.2%. Such figures represent substantial losses of potential revenues that are needed for future investments on improved service delivery.

    Nakamura said the project is a holistic coupling of the technical, social and institutional components in order to establish a functional model for managing NRW, adding that this can be replicated by other water utilities across Nigeria based on expected successful result.

    He said, “In simple terms, Non – Revenue Water (NRW) is the most common challenge for the efficiency of a water company. It is defined as “the difference between the quantity of water supplied to a network and the metered, billed and paid for water by the customer”. It has two components namely; physical losses due to leakage from pipes; and administrative losses due to illegal connections and under registration of water meters.

    “JICA is aware that the Water Board currently operates in 16 water service areas in Abuja and has its plans to further expand and serve Abuja residents much better. In order to assist such plans, JICA decided to provide Ultrasonic water flow meters, Leak detectors, Pipe detectors, Test meters, Data Loggers, etc, including two 4WD vehicles worth approximately US$421, 000.

    “The project had identified and selected Pilot Metering Areas (PMAs) from each of the Abuja Districts, where currently has no functional or reliable system in place for measuring water losses. The water flow meters will be installed to each PMA to measure in/outflows regularly to analyse accurate data of NRW.

    “The project has advanced step by step, and we have been able to commence on a series of activities. They include; 1) the construction of meter chambers, 2) Installation of bulk meters and capacity building through local training workshop and; 3) Sector -focused trainings in Japan for FCT Water Board personnel, and today, delivery of these equipment and vehicles etc.

    “I have noted a worthwhile partnership among stakeholders of the project, and now implore FCT Water Board and relevant departments to take good care of the equipment. Reduced water losses converted to cash can be the solution. JICA solicits even greater leadership and commitment from the FCT government since JICA experts will never be with you forever and ever.”

    FCT Permanent Secretary, John Chukwu said that the water board officials will take the project seriously and ensure that it is executed and implemented with the highest degree of responsibility.

    He said the project has come on stream at a most convenient time when emphasis is on prudent conduct of government business.

    Chukwu who was represented by the Director FCT Water Board, Malam Hudu Bello said, “We will therefore like to express our profound appreciation to the government of Japan through JICA who has made this project a reality. JICA who has made this project a reality. JICA is not only providing support to the water board but to the Federal Capital Territory Administration. And government of Nigeria in terms of funding but as it is being witnessed today.

    “This collaboration will also impact on the development of the skills of the water board officials as the capacity development component is also implemented. We call on the residents of FCT to lend their support to the success of this project by desisting from every form of illegal water connection and regular payment of water bills.”

     

  • Seeking effective ways to improve water supply

    Seeking effective ways to improve water supply

    Prof. Lekan Oyebande, a Water Specialist, on Friday called on all stakeholders to put in place policies to improve water supply for all Nigerians.

    Oyebande told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that only a fraction of Nigerians received water from public waterworks, hence finding alternative sources of drinking water.

    “In every sector, the demand for water is expected to increase, water lies at the heart of everything that is important to human life.

    “Food, sanitation, energy, transport, production of goods and the biosphere such as water ensures not only mere survival of humans, but also social well-being and economic growth.

    “Hence, we must put all measures in place to improve access to water for all Nigerians,” he said.

    He cited an example of the FCT, saying only a fraction of its residents enjoyed pipe borne water, citing Garki, Wuse and Maitama axis alone.

    He said satellite towns such as: Kubwa, Karu among others usually depended on boreholes and alternative sources of water.

    According to him, urban slums such as Durumi, Apo village, Dutse, Kpaduma rely on water from `Mairuwa’ (water vendors), which were usually not suitable for consumption, only for domestic purposes.

    The water specialist said effective water supply was a major driver of economic development, saying efforts must be geared by all to improve the lives of Nigerians.

    He said while government is the ultimate custodian of water resources, many other stakeholders also had a role to play in delivering solutions.

    He told NAN that public-private-civil society coalitions were needed to collectively address the water security issue.

    According to estimates from UNICEF and WHO published in 2013, a staggering 768 million people worldwide do not have access to safe drinking water.

    This, they say, cause illnesses and preventable deaths in hundreds of thousands of children each year, while most of the people without access are poor and live in rural areas or urban slums.

    NAN reports that in Nigeria over 60 per cent of its population lack access to safe drinking water.

    The Federal Government had promised to achieve 75 per cent water coverage by 2015 but so far, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources has claimed that 65 per cent have access to safe drinking water.

  • FG seeks $1bn loan for irrigation, water supply

    FG seeks $1bn loan for irrigation, water supply

    The federal government yesterday said it will seek about $1billion loan and grants from development partners to improve water supply and irrigation in the country.

    The loan, which will be sourced from the World Bank, African Development Bank, French Development Agency, European Union, USAID and Islamic Development Bank, will be put to use in twelve states and two River Basin Development Authorities.

    The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, said this in Abuja at the 3rd Workshop on Performance Assessment, Benchmarking and Governance Issues of Water Agencies in Nigeria.

    Ochekpe, who was represented by the Director, Special Duties, office of the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Daniel Dauda, explained that the government had in 2004 got a loan of $1billion to boost infrastructure in 12 states.

    “The level of success being recorded in the implementation of the programme has given us the confidence to plan and support the process of upscaling it to cover water supply and irrigation development in additional 12 states and two River Basin Development Authorities.

    “When the on-going process mature, additional facilities of about one billion dollars ($1billion) will be further sourced from the partners,” the minister said.

    She said the programme will improve access to potable water supply by the citizens.

    According to her, the programme will also enhance the performances of the state water agencies for sustainable service delivery.

    The government, she said, will monitor and evaluate the programme closely to ensure service delivery and success.

    “The reform programme covers infrastructure development, public private partnership development, institutional strengthening and capacity building. Let me use this opportunity to call on the governments of the states that are currently on the programme to be more proactive through formulation and implementation of necessary action plans that will enhance the achievements of sustainable water service deliver to the citizens of their states,” she added.

  • Lagos assures residents on potable water supply by 2020

    Lagos assures residents on potable water supply by 2020

    •Fashola inaugurates two schools

    Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) has assured residents of the government’s commitment in meeting the demand of potable water supply by 2020.

    Fashola, who gave the assurance yesterday after inspecting the Adiyan Water Works, said the project was designed to put an end to water scarcity.

    He said: “The construction work on the Adiyan Water Works Phase II is in top gear. The contractor has showed that they could work at night and hopefully, this will speed up the construction.

    “This is the third major water works in the state. The first was the Iju Water Works, which was built at about 1910. There was no major intervention until 1991 when Adiyan Water Works Phase I was constructed. That is a long time and the population continued to grow.”

    The governor said the government had also built many mini and micro water works.

    Fashola added that the water project is a medium term plan, stressing that the long term plan is to build more in partnership with the private sector.

    “This is direct government funding. The long-term plan is that we will need more of this to be able to hit the water demand for the residents. The plan is that by 2020, we should be able to meet the plan of the state’s citizens.”

    The governor noted that the provision of water alone was never the answer to water scarcity, but “minimisation of waste and conservation.”

    The governor also defied a downpour to commission an 18-classroom block at Sonmori Senior Comprehensive High School on College Road, Ifaki- Ijaiye and First African Primary School, Iju-Ishaga.

    He urged the residents to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) to continue to enjoy dividends of democracy.

  • Mega water supply for a mega city

    Mega water supply for a mega city

    WATER is central to human existence.A populous city cannot do without this all-important commodity. To ensure free-flow of water in the mega city, the Lagos State Government has unveiled first phase of the Adiyan Water Works, with a capacity for 70million gallon of water.

    Work on the second phase which also has a capacity for 70million gallon of water delay begun. Other water works in Eti-Osa, has to expand among others, have a combined capacity of 593million gallons of water by 2020 when the Lagos population suspected the hit 29million.

    If met, the target would give a surplus of 12 million gallons of water.

    Lagos State Water Corporation (LASWC) Group Managing Director Mr. Shayo Holloway, said  the plan was aimed at meeting the water needs of the emerging mega-city, especially the first phase, which  has 15 additional mini-water works, with only five yet to be inaugurated.

    According to Holloway, the expansion is influenced by population.

    “For example, the water needs in Lagos is 500 million gallons per day, whereas, we are able to provide above 200 million gallons, thus with almost 45 per cent deficit. However, this deficit is already being addressed with the construction of the additional water works, the provision of independent power project that was completed late last year.”

    He said the shortage in Lagos Island was as a result of collapse of transmission trunk under Carter Bridge in 2005.

    “But as a remedial measure then, what we did was the laying of two 600 mm pipes to serve the affected area. As a final measure, the corporation has embarked on the laying of 1200 mm pipe that can effectively serve the affected consumers in Lagos Island, “ Holloway explained.

    He further said the award of engineering design of Odomola Water Scheme that had also received the approval of the Governor “is the ultimate goal”.

    The scheme, when completed is to provide 210 million gallons daily and would serve Ikoyi, Lekki corridor, Epe and Ibeju axis, including the Export Process Zone (EPZ) on the Epe-Maroko Expressway.

    “In essence, when this project is completed, Adiyan would be divested from serving several areas, but would solely concentrate in serving only one senatorial district. While Odomola scheme would be serving mostly Lagos East Senatorial District, Adiyan would be serving the west, while the conglomeration of majority of the existing water works would be serving the central.”

    The corporation, however, urged consumers to tap into its mains instead of patronising water vendors. “Although we realised that there are some areas that are yet to be connected, by the end of 2015, when we must have fully completed the water mains expansion project, most of the areas that are yet to be connected would have the opportunity,” Holloway added.

    Governor Babatunde Fashola, during the inspection of the project, said his administration has planned steady water supply for residents till 2020.

    Fashola said the water projects, which the administration was implementing, would take the state to the level of sustainable and efficient water supply.

    “Currently, there are reticulation contracts that have been issued, including pipe networks and pipelines being laid across the state to receive the supply of water when it is done. The planned expansion at Adiyan, which has been on the drawing board since the 1970s, is expected to give the state 70 million gallons of water per day which is the combined capacity of all the mini water works and micro water works,” the governor said, adding that the Adiyan expansion would help the government to serve areas, such as Iju, Agege, Mushin and Ilupeju.

    Besides, the governor hoped that the project would help relieve pressure from Iju Waterworks and Adiyan Phase One by implementing the expansion which was planned almost three decades ago and bring water to people in those areas.

    “It will also increase our capacity therefore to sustain life, prevent disease, provide healthy living at affordable cost, reduce the dependency that our people currently have in purchasing water, some of which is of questionable integrity,” the governor said, assuring that efforts were on to tackle lack of potable water in some areas.