The Nigerian Ports Authority has partnered with the Apapa Local Development Council Area, Lagos, for the provision of clean water to the residents through the Apapa Mini-Water Works.
Announcing this Tuesday, the Chairman of Apapa LCDA, Idowu Senbanjo, said the move was in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6, which ensures the availability and sustained management of water and sanitation for all.
Senbanjo explained that the lack of potable water had been a burden to the council and much work had been done with the support of the NPA.
“Not having clean water was a big issue for us here in Apapa. People sunk boreholes and were unable to get portable water. The cases of typhoid were on the rise and we investigated the cause down to water and it was becoming too expensive to buy water,” she said.
Senbanjo added that when the project commenced, it was discovered that most of the reticulations were in bad condition, “Because they have been abandoned for close to 15 years and so we have to ensure that they were corrected to ensure that residents get potable water and here we are today. This is a big project, and we must thank the NPA, the main financier that made it possible for our mini waterworks to be functional again,” Senbanjo added.
Earlier, the Chairman of Apapa Residence Developmental Committee, Rear Admiral Austin Oyagha (retd), explained that the LCDA Chairman set up a committee, Apapa Residence Development Committee, to address the issue of potable water supply.
“We were fortunate to have the NPA take over the sponsorship through one of its subsidiaries. Before now, Liverpool Road was reconstructed and a lot of damage occurred to the main parts of the reticulations on that road. We have repaired all the damages, some stolen and couldn’t be recovered but we have replaced them and put some security measurements in place,” he said.
Also speaking, the Southwest Regional Business Manager, Lagos Water Corporation, Oluwabi Ayodele, during the facility tour, appreciated the chairman and all stakeholders for their efforts in ensuring the success of the project.
Ayodele called on all residents of Apapa to work together with the Lagos State Water Corporation by providing them with the necessary feedback on the effectiveness of the reticulations, and in the case of any leakage, it should be registered with the corporation immediately.
He noted that any building that does not have the facility could only benefit from the water project when they register with the office.
