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Lagos communities decry water scarcity, demand govt intervention

Published

1 year ago

March 31, 2025

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Some Lagos residents have called on the state government to make potable water accessible to reduce the huge amount of money spent on buying water.

They disclosed this in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on Monday in Lagos, against the World Water Day celebrated annually in March.

They urged the state government to reduce the spread of water-borne diseases in the state by ensuring the provision of portable water.

According to the World Health Organisation, water scarcity affects one in three people in the African region and is getting worse with population growth, urbanisation, and an increase in household and industrial uses.

While some residents attributed the lack of potable water in the state to poor management and inadequate infrastructure, others linked it to a lack of enough investment and human capital.

A resident in Akowonjo Local Government Area, Mr Ibrahim Mustapha, a businessman, who spoke with NAN, expressed dissatisfaction with the scarcity of potable water in their neighbourhood.

“I don’t know why water remains a big challenge in a state that is surrounded by large bodies of water. I am a 54-year-old man, and I can tell you that the last time I enjoyed public-sourced potable water was in my youth days.

We have had to rely on a privately generated water supply, which is not a good thing,” he said.

He called on the state government to make the water issue a priority and get it done once and for all.

Another resident, Mrs Folake Davies, a dentist who lives around Yaba, told NAN that the unavailability of potable water had led to increased household expenditure.

“This has resulted in buying sachet water for drinking and borehole water in gallons for other domestic use. This has added an extra financial burden on residents who are already struggling and posing environmental challenges like plastic pollution.

“Water scarcity also challenges the ability of residents to keep up with sanitation and healthful living habits, while predisposing them to water-borne diseases if the use of contaminated water continues,” she said.

She called on the state government to find a lasting solution to this menace as it affects residents’ way of life.

Another Makoko resident, Mr Saheed Abbas, an artisan, lamented the hardship that members of the community faced in accessing potable water, which had made its retailing a lucrative business.

“Before residents can access clean water in Makoko, they have to trek for a long distance. Some of them even use motorcycles to get clean water,” he said.

Abbas appealed to the state government to make life easy for them with the resuscitation of potable water in the community.

A resident living in the Igando area of the state, Mrs Lydia Anjorin, a business manager, was sad with the amount of money she spent on purchasing water in the area.

“This scarcity makes us spend significant amounts of money on bottled water and rely on potentially contaminated water sources, impacting our health and hygiene.

We demand that the authorities take steps to improve water access by building new water treatment plants, repairing existing systems, and implementing water conservation measures,” she said.

Mr Kayode Aderibigbe, a Lekki resident, expressed his frustration with the area’s water shortage.

“We often go without water for days, and when it’s available, it’s not even suitable for cooking or drinking. I was recently forced to relocate my family to my in-laws’ home due to a two-day water outage. I had to stay at one of my properties in Magodo just to take a bath.

The situation in Lekki is really disheartening,” Aderibigbe said.

However, for Mrs Ese Ayanwun, a resident of Lekki, access to clean water has become a reality in her area due to the efforts of the local water works.

Ayanwun said a water storage tank had been installed in her house that provides them with a reliable source of clean water.

“This initiative has brought significant relief compared to when we had previously struggled with water scarcity and contamination,” she said.

NAN reports that other areas such as Ajah, Ajao Estate, Ebute Metta, FESTAC and others also lack access to potable water.

A general physician, Dr Tunji Akintade, says lack of access to safe water leads to a wide range of health problems, including waterborne diseases, malnutrition, and increased vulnerability to infections.

Akintade stressed that safe and adequate water facilitates the practice of hygiene, critical to prevent morbidity and mortality, especially among children and vulnerable populations.

According to him, contaminated water and poor sanitation are linked to the transmission of diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, and numerous neglected tropical diseases.

“Safe and readily available water is crucial for public health, whether it is used for drinking, domestic use, or food production,” he said.

He urged the government to improve access to clean and safe water to enhance the health of citizens.

However, efforts to reach out to the Public Relations Officer of the Lagos State Water Corporation, Mr Anifowoshe Rasaq, for his comment proved abortive as his number has not been responsive as of the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, NAN reports that the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, in a report, has assured Lagos residents of a constant water supply by 2027.

Wahab said this when he took a tour of the Adiyan Phase 2 ongoing water project at Iju area of the state.

Wahab, who was impressed with the ongoing work, expressed optimism that Lagos residents would soon be enjoying uninterrupted water supply.

He said that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Deputy Governor, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, had decided that the water problem must be solved.

“To solve the water problem, we had to come to Adiyan 2, which is a 70 million gallons per day project and the biggest. We have mobilised the contractor, so we just came here to see what they are doing so far, and I am glad the media men took the walk too.

“With 70 million gallons, and then we have Iju with Adiyan 1 alongside micro and mini water works, the majority of Lagos houses and homes will have pipe-borne water, which is our target, and we are looking at sometime in 2027,” he said.

NAN

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A Review of Akwa Ibom State Government’s July Delivery Meeting

Stakeholders at the meeting delivered goodwill messages, commending Governor Umo Eno for institutionalising the Delivery Meeting as a platform for transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance.

Published

4 hours ago

July 4, 2026

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Image: Governor Umo Eno

The Akwa Ibom State Government’s Monthly Delivery Meeting concluded its two-day July session, with Governor Umo Eno presiding over an extensive review of the administration’s strategic projects across key sectors.
Hon. Aniekan UmanahCommissioner for Information, reported that the meeting forms part of ongoing efforts to monitor implementation, evaluate progress, and ensure the timely delivery of projects under the ARISE Agenda.
In his opening remarks on Day Two, Governor Eno reiterated that the Delivery Meeting has become a vital accountability mechanism for tracking the performance of government projects and ensuring that every initiative delivers measurable value to the people of the State.
He stressed that the sessions provide an opportunity for honest appraisal, collective problem-solving, and improved coordination among implementing agencies as the administration continues to deliver on its commitments under the ARISE Agenda. Quoting the Greek philosopher Socrates, the Governor said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.”
Before the commencement of the Day Two session, Governor Eno paid an unscheduled visit to the ARISE Palm Resort, an audacious tourism project built on a 73-hectare gully reclamation site, to verify claims made during the previous day’s presentations and assess firsthand the level of progress on the facility, which is scheduled for commissioning later in the year.
The meeting received comprehensive presentations on key projects across multiple sectors of the state’s development programme, including agriculture, trade and investment, maritime and transportation, health, internal security, housing, tourism, local government administration, direct labour projects, and other flagship initiatives.
Under the agricultural sector, presentations were made on the Ibom Model Farm, Agric Equipment Leasing Company, Distribution of Oil Palm Seedlings Programme, Dakkada Global Oil Palm Project, and the Akwa Ibom Agricultural Development Programme (AKADEP), with emphasis on mechanised farming, food security, and job creation.
The Ministry of Trade and Investment presented updates on the International Market, Ikot Ekpene, highlighting its role in boosting commerce, attracting investment, and strengthening regional trade.
The meeting noted the significant progress recorded on the project and urged the contractors to sustain the pace of work.
In the maritime and transport sector, updates were presented on the Oron Maritime Infrastructure Project, which is aimed at improving maritime transportation, boosting commerce, and stimulating economic growth as part of the administration’s broader Blue Economy development initiatives.
The health sector presentation covered the Ibom International Hospital, General Hospitals in Ukanafun, Ibiono Ibom, Ikot Ekpene, Iquita-Oron, Ikot Ekpene Udo, and other State of Emergency Health Projects, reinforcing the government’s commitment to providing accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare services.
The Ministry of Internal Security and Waterways presented progress on the Counter Terrorism Unit Base, aimed at strengthening security infrastructure and enhancing public safety across the state.
The Ministry of Housing provided updates on the Doctors’ Residence and the Executive and Legislative Quarters, projects aimed at providing decent accommodation while supporting urban renewal and improving living standards.
In the tourism sector, progress on the Ibom International Hotel at the Convention Arena was reviewed, with emphasis on repositioning the facility to boost tourism, hospitality, and investment opportunities.
Updates from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs covered the Chairmen’s Lodges, with an assurance that all 31 lodges will be completed by December 2026 to strengthen administrative efficiency at the grassroots level.
The Direct Labour Committee reported progress on the Youth Development Centres, the One Project Per Local Government Area (Phase II), the Judiciary Village, and the House of Assembly Complex, all aimed at strengthening governance infrastructure and promoting youth development.
Other strategic projects reviewed included the ARISE Shopping City, ARISE Park Beach Villas, AKBC Project, Model Secondary School, Senior Citizens Centre, and the Nigeria Formr Women Project, reflecting the administration’s broad development agenda across multiple sectors.
Stakeholders at the meeting delivered goodwill messages, commending Governor Umo Eno for institutionalising the Delivery Meeting as a platform for transparency, accountability, and inclusive governance.
Senator Effiong Bob commended the Governor for consistently engaging stakeholders in the governance process, noting that the ARISE Agenda is making measurable progress while praising the administration’s openness and transparency. Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Assam Assam, described the meeting as the most impactful yet, citing visible progress across sectors, particularly in healthcare infrastructure and service delivery.
The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Udeme Otong, lauded the Governor’s leadership and assured him of the continued support and collaboration of the State House of Assembly.
The Oku Ibom Ibibio and President-General of the Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers, His Eminence, Ntenyin Dr. Solomon Etuk, JP, expressed pride in the administration’s developmental strides and commended Governor Eno’s inclusive approach to governance.
In his closing remarks, Governor Umo Eno appreciated all participants, Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Delivery Advisors, stakeholders, and contractors for their contributions to the two-day review exercise, noting that the sessions were rigorous but necessary in strengthening governance and ensuring accountability.
The Governor stated that the administration is entering its “harvest season” as it gradually winds down its first term, adding that observations from the meeting would be used to further improve service delivery and implementation efficiency.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to completing all ongoing projects within set timelines and urged implementing agencies to sustain the momentum and maintain high standards in project execution for the benefit of the people of Akwa Ibom State.
At the conclusion of the Delivery Meeting, Governor Eno led stakeholders on an inspection visit to the Ibom Convention Arena to assess ongoing work on the 200-bed Ibom International Hotel project, which is billed for commissioning later in the year.

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Explosion rocks Apapa tank farm; NPA, NIMASA move to curtail spread

Following the outbreak the fire service departments of both the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) moved in to curtail the spread of the inferno.

Published

10 hours ago

July 3, 2026

OCHEFA

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Panic erupted at the Lagos tank farm cluster at Ibafon, Apapa, on Friday morning after a fire broke out at the Bono Tank Farm, located within the Best Energy Tank Farm complex.

The inferno sent residents and workers in the area fleeing for safety as emergency responders moved in to contain the blaze.

Efforts to obtain comments from the management of Bono Tank Farm and Best Energy Tank Farm were unsuccessful, as phone calls and text messages sent to their representatives were neither answered nor acknowledged.

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FG slams 8-count charges on Adeyemi over fake agency ” I’m not a criminal”, he defends

It was learned that the alleged ‘‘fake’’ Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council was allocated N1.302 billion in the 2026 Budget of the Federal Government.

Published

16 hours ago

July 3, 2026

OCHEFA

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Photo: Gbajabiamila, and Adeyemi

The Federal Government has filed an 8-count charges against Adeniyi Adeyemi, convener of a purported Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council, PFIPC, over the controversy trailing the agency.

Adeyemi, however, fought back claiming that he was given an appointment letter.

Adeyemi, during an appearance on Channels Television claimed that the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila gave him an appointment letter, insisting that he is not a criminal.

However, it was learned that the alleged ‘‘fake’’ Presidential Economic Advisory Council/Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council was allocated N1.302 billion in the 2026 Budget of the Federal Government.

In a statement on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, presidential spokesperson, said the charges were filed by the Police on November 27, 2025, against Adeyemi and two accomplices at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Onanuga said Adeyemi is expected to appear in court on July 27, 2026.