The Lagos State Government has said that it has not privatized water supply, neither has it awarded water privatization contract to any organisation, saying that the Public Private Partnership (PPP) model that it was initiated in the water sector was still at bidding stage.
This was made known on Thursday in Ijora by Engr. Muminu Badmus, Managing Director, Lagos Water Corporation while reacting to reports in some section of the media.
Engr. Badmus debunked reports by some online media that the state government had awarded water privatization contract to a discredited company as false, stressing that such insinuations were at best preemptive as the government had only shortlisted a number of reputable companies, none of which was yet to have the contract.
He explained that the Lagos Water Corporation had publicly advertised an Expression of Interest (EOI) which attracted seven local and international firms, out of which four firms were shortlisted following a rigorous and transparent process.
He assured Lagosians that the Lagos State Government would continue to work in their interest in the bid to promote their wellbeing, adding that this was the main reason why the Akinwunmi Ambode Administration had prioritised provision of potable water to the people by investing in water facilities as evidenced by the increase of water supply to 220Million Gallons per Day (MGD) to rapidly bridge supply gap.
Engr. Badmus stated that the exponential increase in population has continued to push the water supply need of Lagos State to 570MGD, leaving a gap of over 300MGD, while for the same demographic reason, the state’s resources faced pressure from other critical areas.
“ Globally, attention is being shifted to the PPP arrangement to provide infrastructure for the people as the government can no longer shoulder the responsibility alone” he said.
He said that what the government was working towards was ultimately a PPP arrangement and not outright withdrawal, adding that government was midwifing an arrangement that would ensure the injection of both public and private funds and expertise to drive the seamless provision of potable water to the teeming population of Lagosians.
He assured Lagosians that, as the ultimate beneficiaries, they would have cause to rejoice at the outcome of the ongoing process which not only promises to evolve an effective and enduring solution to the water supply needs of Lagosians, but also bring about a model for the country and the entire West Africa sub-region.
