Some representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Lagos have thrown their weight behind the proposed pilot Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for Seven (7) Mini and Micro Waterworks in Lagos State.
They made the commitment during an engagement meeting with the leadership of the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) on Thursday, September, 18 2025, at the Water-House, Ijora, headquarters of the corporation to address concerns surrounding the proposed Pilot Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for Seven (7) Mini and Micro Waterworks in Lagos State.
Speaking during the meeting, the Managing Director of LWC, Engr. Mukhtaar Tijani, reiterated that the primary goal of the PPP initiative is to ensure effective and sustainable service delivery to residents across the state.
“We have chosen to implement a different approach to achieve improved outcomes, particularly to ensure adequate provision of potable water for Lagosians,” Engr. Tijani explained.
He emphasised the Corporation’s commitment to making the pilot phase a success, with the broader objective of expanding the number of Mini and Micro Waterworks to meet growing demand.
Also speaking, the Executive Director, Operations, Engr. Helen Taiwo, assured stakeholders that the Corporation’s focus remains on boosting production capacity and enhancing customer satisfaction.
“We welcome private sector collaboration to foster mutual understanding and alignment as we work towards shared objectives,” she said.
In a detailed slide presentation on behalf of the Managing Director, Engr. Titilola Bright-Oridami, Head of Transformation and Strategy, highlighted the direct benefits of the PPP initiative.
These include:
“More reliable and consistent water supply,
“Fair and transparent tariffs,
“Avenues for grievance redress, and
“The introduction of a Community Service Charter to guarantee accountability.”
Representatives of the CSOs in attendance commended the LWC for its openness and pledged to share the outcomes of the engagement with their communities.
They also expressed confidence that the PPP initiative, over time, would help address the long-standing challenge of insufficient potable water delivery in Lagos State.
The CSOs further reaffirmed their commitment to sustaining dialogue with the Corporation and supporting efforts to ensure equitable access to water services for all Lagosians.
Background to the LWC PPP Initiative
The Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), as the primary agency responsible for potable water supply in Lagos State, has long faced challenges in meeting the growing demand of its over 20 million residents.
Rapid urbanisation, population growth, ageing infrastructure, inadequate investment, and high operating costs have placed immense strain on the state’s water production and distribution capacity.
Currently, Lagos requires over 540 million gallons of water per day (MGD) to meet demand, but production falls far short of this target. This gap has created reliance on boreholes, sachet water, and private suppliers, often at higher costs and with safety concerns.
To bridge this gap and ensure sustainable service delivery, LWC has turned to Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a strategic option.
PPPs are designed to attract private sector investment, innovation, and technical expertise into water management while ensuring transparency, accountability, and citizen participation.
The pilot PPP project focuses on seven Mini and Micro Waterworks across Lagos State.
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The pilot is expected to serve as a model for scaling up PPPs across more waterworks in Lagos, contributing to the state government’s long-term vision of universal access to safe and affordable water.
In line with this, the Corporation has been engaging key stakeholders—including CSOs, community leaders, and development partners.
The goal is to ensure inclusivity, build trust, and foster collective ownership of the initiative.
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