2019: Lagos PDP guber candidate, Agbaje promises provision of public potable water

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming elections in Lagos, Jimi Agbaje has promised to provide portable water supply to the teeming population of the state if elected as governor.

This was revealed in a statement signed and released by the director of media and publicity of the Jimi Agbaje Campaign Organisation, Modupe Ogunbayo on Friday.

Read full statement below: 

JIMI AGBAJE PROMISES PROVISION OF PUBLIC POTABLE WATER

Jimi Agbaje, the gubernatorial  candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos state, has promised the provision of potable water to all areas of Lagos if voted into office. At various town hall rallies held across the state, Agbaje often asks attendees comprising basically artisans, traders and the general public to raise their hands if any of them have public water supply in their homes. No hands were raised. Agbaje remarked that this is a marked departure from what obtained when he asked the same question in 2o15. “At least, there were smattering of hands raised comprising those who have such water supply. None were raised this time,” he said, adding, ” It shows the general malaise that has befallen the people to have lapsed into zero supply of potable water, a basic right, in four years. My administration would correct that.”

Agbaje intends to achieve this through reviving and revamping the water works located in different areas of the state. Though Lagos is surrounded by the ocean and sea, the waters are not potable. Since 1901, it has therefore  posed a major challenge to the state’s administrators since colonial era to provide drinkable water for residents of Lagos.

The Lagos Water Corporation said its “mini-waterworks were designed to feed directly into the networks laid in their various locations to give immediate effect in these areas. Along with the installations of the mini-waterworks, additional tertiary distribution networks have been laid on a continuing basis, to improve access to consumers.”

Under the Lateef Jakande’s administration in 1979, the Lagos State Government received the report of “The study of the projected water demand of Lagos up to the year 2000”. It became imperative that the State Government had to consider water supply expansion schemes.

These included: Expansion of Iju Waterworks from 109,714m3/d (24.1 mgd) to 208,000m3/d (46 mgd); Construction of Adiyan Waterworks in three phases to supply 70 mgd per phase; Expansion of Ishasi Waterworks from 18,000m3/d (4 mgd) to 160,000m3/d (35.1 mgd) and expansion of primary, secondary, and tertiary distribution networks.

This way, there was adequate public supply if potable water around all parts of Lagos. Agbaje therefore aims at strengthening Lagos State Water Management Board along the same strategy put forward by the Jakande’s  government. He would refurbish, reconstruct, operate and maintain the existing water supply systems according to latest 21st century technology to ensure the waterworks are operational.

Not just that, Agbaje intends to achieve this feat in four years. “It took Lateef Jakande’s administration four years to achieve this. That is also our aim,” he said.

Modupe Ogunbayo

Director, Media&Publicity/spokesperson

Jimi Agbaje Campaign Organisation