Solving perennial scarcity of drinking water in most parts of Lagos State, the state government has unveiled plans to provide pipe bore water for the residents in the coming year.
The state government said it is worrisome to know that some parts of the state lack basic water supply which has made life difficult for them. This the state said it has perfetced plans to provide the residents with clean and adequate water supply in 2024.
Special Adviser on the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu stated this on a live radio programme on 91.3fm on Thursday which was monitored by The Bliss News.
As parts of plans, the SA said the ministry will weigh in and wake the sleeping giants in the Lagos state water corporation, an agency responsible for providing adequate water for the teeming residents.
He said: “When we came on board, we learnt that Lagos provides 20 million gallons of water daily to residents but it was discovered that it is only on records. We discover that larger portion of the water go into waste, the ministry of environment has gone to sleep before but now we have reawaken the giant. We have engaged serious and reliable developing partners to work out things to make water avalaible for Lagosians. One of our KPI in the ministry is to ensure water is available for residents. The governor wants to ensure that Lagosians get water and that will be achieve in the coming year.”
Speaking on residentreliancece on borehole water as only major source of drinking water in lather part of the state, the SA said such water is not hygenic enough for drinking.
“The borehole water is hard water, it has a lot of contents that shouldn’t be consume. We want to make Lagosians do away from drinking such water and we are working hard towards that. Most part of Lagos will begin to access portable water fro government from next year.”
Speaking on efforts to achive water for all Lagosians, he said; “Just about two weeks ago, we commissioned a 2 milligallonlon per day water in Baruwa area of the state, and we are going to be doing more of such in the coming year to cover the wattwr shortage in some communities. We are reawakening the sleeping giants in water coperation to ensure we deliver more water and value for our people.”
Rotimi-Akodu who spoke on a number of issues varying from environmental pollution and indiscriminate dumping of refuse by marketers at various markets and drainages assured that the government will intensify effort at ensuring that such acts are curbed.
He said advocacy has been going on to enlighten and sensitise market men and women and even the larger populace agaist depletion of the environment and indiscriminate waste dumping.
He said the government has open up canals to allow for free flow of water channels around Lagos to prevent flooding which could lead to loss of life and property.
“We are opening up those canals to support the primary drainages to ensure free flow of water,” he said.
On noise pollution, Rotimi-Akodu said the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has been charged to go all out to ensure that noise is put at the required decibel at religious centres and event centres, saying government will not hesitate to use the instrumentality of the law against defaulters.
