Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has slammed the Lagos State Government over remarks made by Mahmood Adegbite, Permanent Secretary of the Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources.
Adegbite acknowledged that residents of Lekki Peninsula are likely drinking “shit water” from contaminated boreholes due to the government’s failure to provide reliable and affordable public water.
CAPPA says this admission highlights decades of neglect of Lagos’ public water infrastructure, forcing residents to rely on unsafe, self-supplied water through boreholes.
The organization argues that the government is “bad-mouthing a crisis it manufactured” and should instead focus on addressing the root cause of the problem.
Key Demands by CAPPA
Urgent Public Investment: CAPPA calls for dedicated public investment in water and sanitation.
Suspension of Market-Based Reforms: The organization wants all market-based water reforms suspended.
Publicly Led Water Governance: CAPPA advocates for a publicly led, community-focused water governance framework.
State-Wide Emergency Plan: The group demands a plan targeting underserved communities, repairing wastewater systems, and integrating climate-resilient approaches.
CAPPA stresses that Lagosians are “victims of policy failure” and shouldn’t be blamed for drinking unsafe water. The organization urges the Lagos State Government to co-develop a people-centered water policy with residents, civil society, and experts.
