By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
THE LAGOS State Government has received commendation for its continued investment in public water infrastructure, with the Adiyan II Water Treatment Plant now 80% complete.
However, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has urged the state to resist any moves toward privatising the sector once ongoing projects reach completion.
According to reports from Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s recent inspection, Adiyan II remains on track for its 2027 completion, with an additional ₦20 billion allocated in the 2025 budget to cover outstanding liabilities.
CAPPA, in a statement signed by Robert Egbe, Media & Communications Officer, CAPPA, over the weekend, highlighted that sustained public investment in water infrastructure is the most effective path to ensuring universal access to clean and affordable water.
While acknowledging the state’s progress, CAPPA cautioned against concessions or privatisation, warning that such moves would undermine the extensive investments already made.
“We strongly urge the Lagos State Government to resist any temptation to privatise or concession the Adiyan II project and other water treatment facilities across the state. Water is not a commodity to be sold to the highest bidder.
If Adiyan II or any other public water facility is handed over to private corporations, Lagosians will suffer—higher tariffs, restricted access, and corporate exploitation,” the organisation stated.
The group referenced failed privatisation attempts across Africa, where profit-driven policies led to skyrocketing costs and widespread lack of access to water.
It also cited the recent withdrawal of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) from Lagos’ water sector as a case study of the risks involved in outsourcing critical infrastructure to external financiers.
“What is happening with USAID is a textbook example of why governments should never outsource critical infrastructure to external financiers with hidden agendas.
The Lagos State government must recognise this as a blessing in disguise and take full control of its water sector rather than leaving it vulnerable to shifting donor priorities, where financial commitments are subject to geopolitical agendas, austerity measures, and changing domestic policies in donor countries, all of which can leave both governments and communities stranded,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi, CAPPA’s Executive Director.
Under a 2021 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with USAID, five mini waterworks were set for rehabilitation with private sector involvement.
However, USAID’s abrupt funding withdrawal—due to internal U.S. government financial challenges—has disrupted these plans, revealing the risks of over-reliance on external funding sources.
With USAID’s exit, Lagos is now exploring funding from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and France’s Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
CAPPA raised concerns over these financial institutions, arguing that their support often comes with stringent commercial conditions that prioritise corporate profits over public welfare.
“JICA and AFD have a track record of attaching dangerous conditions to their loans and grants—cost-recovery tariffs, bulk water purchase agreements, and privatisation clauses and mandates that prioritise corporate profits over public welfare.
AFD, in particular, has close ties to Suez, a corporation notorious for its aggressive pro-privatisation stance and the devastation it leaves in its wake.
If Lagos aligns itself with these buccaneers, residents will soon be burdened with unaffordable water tariffs while the state loses control over its own infrastructure,” CAPPA cautioned.
The organisation urged the state government to turn USAID’s withdrawal into an opportunity by reinforcing its commitment to public water management.
“This is a defining moment. Lagos has the opportunity to lead Africa’s water justice cause by rejecting privatisation and strengthening its public water systems.
As Engr. Mukthar rightly acknowledged in an interview on this matter, ‘…we need to rely on the state government more… it is more predictable…’—unlike funding from external sources.
“The state must invest in the Lagos Water Corporation and the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources to enhance their operational efficiency and ensure transparency in the sector rather than handing over control to foreign profiteers.
The decisions made today will determine whether water remains a public good accessible to all Lagosians, or whether it becomes a luxury available only to those who can afford it,” the statement concluded.
CAPPA further called on residents to remain vigilant and actively demand that their government prioritise public interest over profit-driven initiatives in the water sector.
