Press Releases

Lagos To Get 30 Million Gallons Of Water Daily Soon
…As Fashola commissions two mini water works in Mende and Magodo

Jan 21, 2010 - Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Thursday commissioned two mini water works located at Mende, Maryland and Magodo in Kosofe Local Government with a firm commitment that 30 million gallons of water would soon be delivered to the people from the 15 mini water works being constructed across the State.

According to Governor Fashola who spoke while commissioning the two mini water works that will deliver two million gallons of water each, eight of the mini water works have been fully completed and are being handed over to the people of the communities where they are located beginning with Magodo and Mende.

He added that the remaining seven are also at different stages of completion across the State with all of them scheduled for delivery in the next few weeks as part of the short term plan of providing water for the populace.

The Governor also said the new 15 mini water works in addition to providing 30 million gallons of water to the people of Lagos daily would also each come with five kilometre reticulation to aid the distribution of the water.

Governor Fashola said as part of the medium term plan of the State Government for solving the problem of water supply, the Iju Waterworks and Adiyan water works with a capacity to produce 130 million gallons of water daily would be positioned for optimum production as the state is building a 12.5 megawatt independent power station that would be dedicated to the two water works, promising that before June this year, the Independent power station would be commissioned.

Governor Fashola who described the commissioning of the two mini water works at Mende and Magodo as a fulfillment of his electoral promises to the people two and half years ago, added that on the long term plan, the Government would build new massive waterworks through the Adiyan Phase 2 and Odomola in Epe.

While stressing that the plans form part of the water sector reforms of the Government, he invited private investors to come forward and partner with the state by investing in the water sector just as it is done overseas.

He also said water supply is a major component of the State Government’s responsibility to sustain the environment, promote sustainability and provision of health care and prevent disease.

In his words: “While some people see this as a Millennium Development Goal (MDG) or a goal that has a particular date, we in our party (the Action Congress) see it as a Minimum Development Goal”.

Governor Fashola added: “A long time ago they told us that everything will happen in Year 2010, we are now in 2010, the miraculous year. The Action Congress (AC) believes that this are things that should not have a date but should be the primary function of any serious party that wants to form government in this country” .

Governor Fashola also expressed appreciation to the contractor which handled the mini water works at Magodo for donating a computer and laboratory science block to the school behind the water works without any prompting.

He described the conduct of the contractor as a commendable act of giving something back to the community by people who have prospered from their endeavours in the area.

On the plea and clamour of some youths in Mende, Maryland for the Governor to intervene and save the playground in the area, Governor Fashola said he has been briefed on the issue by leaders like Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora and Honourable Bayo Osinowo, promising to ensure that the playground is saved.

He appealed to the residents of the communities where the water works are located not to see the projects as government properties, but facilities they should be ready to defend, adding that the people should guide against vandalisation, cutting of pipe and making illegal connections.

Governor Fashola also implored residents to pay their water bills regularly noting that refusing to do so will deprive the water corporation of resources to keep the supply going, buy diesel and maintain the facility, which would ultimately be inimical to the ability of the facility to supply water to the people.

Earlier, while speaking at the commissioning of the water works at Magodo, the Deputy Minority Leader of the Senate, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora commended Governor Babatunde Fashola for becoming the trademark for performance and good governance in Nigeria.

Senator Mamora also acknowledged the role of former Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu who laid the foundation, saying no leadership is complete without succession adding that the vision, courage and strategy laid down by Asiwaju Tinubu is what Fashola is putting in place and taking higher.

Also speaking, a member of the State House of Assembly representing Kosofe Constituency, Mr Bayo Oshinowo commended Governor Fashola for not disappointing the party which nominated him for the Governorship election in 2007 by fulfilling his electoral promises.

The Governor also inspected the Oregun and Egan-Igando Skill Acquisition centres where costumes for the forthcoming Lagos Fanty festival are being produced.

Governor Fashola who was received by the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Joke Orelope Adefulire and Mr Disun Holloway at both centres expressed satisfaction with the level of output by the trainees.

Governor Fashola told the trainees at the Egan Igando centre after he had asked one of them to assess the level of knowledge already imparted on them since the training started that he is very proud of them.

He added that he had the choice of importing the costume, but opted to give the opportunity to the Centres, adding that with the quality of what has been produced, they have confirmed that Nigerians can do well if given the opportunity.

Among those present at the ceremony were some members of the State Executive Council, party leaders like Alhaji Abiodun Sunmola, Chief Bushura Alebiosu, Group Managing Director of the Lagos State Water Corporation, Engineer Shayo Holloway, traditional rulers and many important dignitaries.