Community asks Lagos government to keep water public

In continuation of community engagements on the human right to water and the promotion of public ownership and democratic control of water resources, civil society and water justice activists under the auspices of the Africa Water Justice Network, held a community outreach in Somolu Local Government Area of Lagos State last Thursday.

The outreach, led by the Help Initiative for Social Justice and Humanitarian Development in Nigeria, was organised as part of activities marking World Water Day and drew participants from Bariga Local Council Development Area (LCDA) communities, including Somolu, Ayetoro, Odunsi, Pedro, Ebute, Akoka, Abule-Okuta, Ilaje, and Ladylak in the Gbagada axis.

The action builds on previous engagements, including an earlier campaign in Pedro community, where residents highlighted persistent challenges in accessing safe and affordable water. The challenges, participants noted, disproportionately affect women and girls, who bear the primary responsibility of sourcing water, with implications on maternal health, menstrual hygiene, childcare, and overall household welfare.

Residents who spoke during the outreach described ongoing reliance on water vendors, often at high financial cost. “We spend a sizeable portion of our limited income on water because it is essential,” a long-time resident said.

Another participant explained that while some households have resorted to digging boreholes, the water is often saline and causes skin irritation, forcing residents to supplement with sachet and bottled water, which they perceive as safer for drinking.

Community members called on the Lagos State Government to retain water services under public control and increase budgetary allocation to the sector. They argued that dependence on private vendors is unsustainable and that public management is key to ensuring safe, affordable, and accessible water for all.

Several residents also raised environmental concerns linked to the widespread use of sachets and bottled water. One elderly participant noted that she regularly carries bottled water due to the lack of a reliable public supply, adding that a functional system would enable the use of reusable containers and reduce plastic waste.

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Organisers said the outreach provided an opportunity to document residents’ experiences and gather recommendations for revitalising the public water sector. These findings, they noted, will be forwarded to relevant government ministries, departments, and agencies.

The programme also featured interactive sessions emphasising collective action and community participation in water governance. Participants were urged to resist privatisation efforts, which organisers warned could further marginalise vulnerable populations.

Speaking at the event, Aderonke Ige stressed that water is a fundamental human right. “Water must never be reduced to a commodity that people have to negotiate for; it is life,” she said.

She added that the ongoing campaign aims to amplify community voices and strengthen advocacy for democratic control of water resources. Ige highlighted the commitment of Help Initiative for Social Justice and the role of the Africa Water Justice Network in fostering collaboration across African countries and promoting public alternatives to water privatisation, including the concept of “Blue Communities” as models of sustainable water management.

Dr. Nura Ali, a researcher affiliated with the University of Lagos and the University of Liverpool, who was also present during the community outreach, used the platform to also share some of her findings from previous research studies with the community members.

The outreach concluded with a renewed call for government action to ensure equitable access to safe and affordable water for all residents by prioritising water as a public good as opposed to an economic resource.