In a significant stride toward addressing one of Lagos’s most persistent challenges, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu inaugurated the fully rehabilitated Akilo Water Facility in Ogba on December 12, 2025. The project, which restores one million gallons of water per day to the city’s supply, represents more than just infrastructure renewal; it is a tangible model for sustainable urban water management in a megacity.
The governor used the occasion to reaffirm a core commitment of his administration: the expansion of safe, reliable water access as a non-negotiable pillar of public health and urban development. “We are determined to ensure that every neighbourhood in Lagos has access to clean and reliable water supply,” Sanwo-Olu stated, framing the project as a “beacon of hope” achieved through strategic partnership.
Beyond Rehabilitation: A Partnership Model for Sustainability
The Akilo facility’s revival is a direct outcome of the collaborative Urban Water and Sanitation Access Project (UWASAP), facilitated by WaterAid Nigeria and implemented with the Lagos State Water Corporation (LSWC). This tripartite model—combining state authority, international NGO expertise, and community engagement—is being touted as a blueprint for future projects.
Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, provided critical context: the rehabilitated plant will serve over 100 households in the Akilo axis through a dual system of direct household connections and innovative, digitally operated water kiosks. This approach not only improves access but also introduces modern utility management and payment systems, crucial for long-term operational viability.
The Human and Economic Impact of Reliable Water Access
The project’s impact transcends simple metrics. For communities in Ogba, Agege, and surrounding areas, the end of dependence on the facility—which was constructed in 2012 but had been moribund for years, as noted by LSWC Managing Director Mukhtaar Tijani—means a drastic reduction in time spent fetching water, a decrease in waterborne diseases, and a lowering of household expenditure on expensive, often unsafe, private water vendors.
Evelyn Mere, Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, connected the project to broader national and global goals. “Our goal is to provide sustainable, resilient and affordable WASH services,” she said, highlighting Lagos as a critical focus. Significantly, Mere also unveiled a newly developed faecal sludge management framework, an often-overlooked component of the water-sanitation nexus. This framework aims to transform waste management from a public health hazard into an economic opportunity within the sanitation value chain, creating jobs while protecting the environment.
A Call to Collective Ownership: The Community’s Role
A recurring and vital theme from the inauguration was the imperative of community stewardship. Governor Sanwo-Olu made a direct appeal to residents: “We expect residents to take ownership of these assets and protect them, because they are for the collective good of our communities.” This call underscores a fundamental shift in perspective—viewing public utilities not as distant government provisions, but as community-owned assets vulnerable to vandalism and neglect, whose longevity depends on local vigilance and care.
The successful rehabilitation of the Akilo Water Facility serves as a powerful case study. It demonstrates that solving Lagos’s complex water crisis requires a multi-faceted strategy: leveraging strategic partnerships, integrating smart technology for management, linking water access to broader sanitation and economic initiatives, and, most importantly, fostering a deep sense of communal responsibility. As Commissioner Wahab noted, this work is essential for achieving Sustainable Development Goals on water, sanitation, and health. The true test will be in the consistent replication of this model across Lagos’s diverse and expanding urban landscape.
Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Christiana Fadare
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