17th June, 2016
The Lagos State Government has shut down two water producing companies in Lagos, CWAY Nigeria Drinking Water Science and Technology Company Limited and Figol Water, for breaching safety standard.
The government said it is determined to ensure compliance with the state’s groundwater quality control regulation and the state drinking water quality standard.
Executive Secretary, Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LSWRC), Ahmed Abdullahi, who led the team on the compliance and enforcement exercise, also visited Nigerian Breweries Limited, La Casera, Cascade Waters, 7up, Coca Cola and Guinness Nig. Plc.
He said CWAY Limited was sealed for non-declaration of all its facilities and non-compliance as stipulated in the regulatory guidelines of the Lagos State Water Sector Law (LSWSL) 2004.
“This move is in line with the vision of the state government to curb the occurrence and spread of water borne diseases in the state, as well as improve the standard of living and promote safety culture at all times.
”The state government is leaving nothing to chance to ensure that all stakeholders in the water sector comply with the guidelines and regulations for water abstraction/consumption as stipulated by the law.
“The administration of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, being a very responsive and responsible government, would no longer fold its hands and watch the pollution of the groundwater through indiscriminate abstraction and illegal borehole drilling that is polluting the groundwater on a daily basis,” he said.
He revealed that the first and second aquifers of underground water were the worst hit and that the state government was taking adequate steps to ensure the preservation and conservation of all the aquifers of underground water to ensure safety of lives, provision of portable water that is of good quality and a water sector that is sustainable and viable.
Ahmed disclosed that a sustainability plan by the state government would soon be launched by Governor Ambode and that it would involve corporate private sector participation.
While acknowledging the challenges associated with the supply of water to residents of the State, Ahmed said the intention of government was to ensure a well regulated water sector devoid of abuse by all stakeholders, adding that this would ensure the attractiveness of the sector to participation by the private sector.
He disclosed that by 2020, the present 33 percent water provision would rise to 100 percent when the sector was expected to be fully compliant with the regulations.