By Ijeoma Agbafo
WaterAid Nigeria has inaugurated a 20,000-litre solar-powered motorised borehole, water treatment unit and two water kiosks in Omigo Community, Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, to improve access to safe and clean water.
The facility, implemented under the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Improvement Plus (WASHCOM) Project and funded by the PepsiCo Foundation, is expected to provide clean and reliable water to about 1,200 residents. Speaking at the inauguration on Thursday, WaterAid Nigeria’s Country Director, Ms Evelyn Mere, represented by Dr Adebayo Alao, described the project as a major step towards expanding access to safe water and improving public health.
Mere urged the community, its Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Committee (WASHCOM) and the Ikorodu North LCDA to jointly maintain the facility to ensure its sustainability. She also encouraged residents to embrace the “Pay-to-Sustain” model through the water kiosks to support routine maintenance and protect the investment for future generations.
Responding, the Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA, Mr Ahmid Apanishile, commended WaterAid and the PepsiCo Foundation for addressing the community’s water needs. He assured residents that maintenance structures had been established to sustain the project, while the Lagos State Government reaffirmed its commitment to expanding access to safe water through strategic partnerships.
Chairman of the community’s WASHCOM, Mr Idowu Kayode, described the project as long-awaited relief for residents who had relied on unsafe water sources for years. He pledged transparent management of the facility and urged community members to protect the infrastructure and support efforts to ensure its long-term sustainability.
