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– Civil Society Demands Audit of ₦Billions Allocated but Unspent on Water Projects
– Assembly Opens Door to Public-Public Partnerships After Rejecting PPP Plan
– Transparency & Accountability Forefronted in Lagos Water Reform Debate
In a critical response to a joint petition by six civil society organisations, the Lagos State House of Assembly has announced an investigation into nearly two decades of budget allocations for water infrastructure that critics say have failed to deliver results. Shabi Rasheed Adekola, House Committee Chair on Environment (Parastatals), unveiled the commitment during a meeting with the petitioners on September 9, 2025—who include groups like RDI, EDEN, and the Ecumenical Water Network Africa. The petitioners flagged a series of major allocations—from a ₦4 billion Otta-Ikosi waterworks project (2007) to recent chemical procurement budgets (₦950 million for 2023, ₦1.2 billion for 2024)—with service delivery apparently still lacking. Adekola assured the groups that oversight proceedings will begin promptly and clarified that no legislative approval has been granted for the Lagos Water Corporation’s pilot Public-Private Partnership (PPP).
Beyond probing financial mismanagement, the Assembly signal a willingness to explore alternative governance models—such as Public-Public Partnerships (PuPs)—advocated by the petitioning groups. Adekola urged the Lagos Water Corporation to engage meaningfully with civil society and other stakeholders in formulating sustainable solutions to the state’s enduring water crisis.
