Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, said that stakeholders in the water resources sector should stop paying lip service to investing appropriately in providing residents with water.
Sanwo-Olu said this at the 2024 Lagos International Water Conference, themed: “Financing Water and Sanitation for a Greater Lagos”.
Sanwo-Olu noted that the era of talking without actions should end, disclosing that in the past five years, after the annual conference, there are usually proposals that are not actionable.
The governor, therefore, said that the conference should not just be a talk show but should move to practical solutions to the water resources challenges the state is grappling with, especially public water supply.
He said on the part of the state government there will be a recommitment to fostering partnerships, leveraging community engagement, and international alliances to achieve water management, financing, and sanitation efforts in Lagos.
The governor urged participants at the conference to partner with the state government in its collective commitment to change the narrative in ensuring access to water supply and the completion of the Adiyan water work project.
The Special Guest of Honour, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, said addressing challenges of water resources and sanitation in Lagos required concerted efforts and innovative solutions, as well as developing financing mechanisms through public-private partnerships.
He added that many residents rely on informal water sources which often lead to waterborne diseases.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the forum would enable participants to explore new avenues for financing, identify best practices, and build partnerships that would address issues related to water governance, as well as pave the way for a greater Lagos.
The Executive Secretary, Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, Funke Adepoju, said the conference would provide actionable strategies that would contribute to the broader goals of WASH in Lagos and the water sector as stakeholders engage in discussions on innovative financial models.
