*Rejects privatization plan
The people of Epe have called on the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to ensure the community gets safe, clean and affordable potable water.
In a letter sent to their representative in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mustainu Abiodun Tobun, the community called on the state government to revive the comatose waterworks in Epe.
in the letter sent to Tobun who represents Epe Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, the community made a six-point demand. These include, the rehabilitation of Epe Mini-Waterworks, connection of all households in the community to water points, and called on the state government to fully uphold the human right to water as an obligation of the government representing the people.
Other demands are: the state government should integrate broad public participation including that of women in developing plans to achieve universal access to clean water, as well as increase budgetary allocation to the water sector. They also demanded for the institution of a Water Trust Fund that will expand public financing of the water sector.
The petition which was also sent to sent to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and Clerk of the House, Hon. Olalekan Onafeko, rejected planned to privatise water saying this would take it out of the reach of the common people.
The community memberswho were drawn from grassroots and labour activists, youths, women, faith and community-based organisations in Epe, lauded Tobun for his effort in the community but asked him to do more.
In the petition which was signed by Adesanya Oguntimirin, the community said, “ We are using this medium to express our dissatisfaction about the current state of the Epe mini waterworks which has not produced a single drop of water for years for the people. The non-functioning of the waterworks has made some of us resort to any available source to get water including from unwholesome sources. We largely depend on boreholes or endure a long-distance trek to fetch water at exorbitant prices.
“Honourable, you will agree with us that water is life. Beyond using water for drinking, cooking, washing and other domestic use is the fact that it has been declared as a right by the United Nations in 2010, and as such it is the responsibility of the government to provide water for the people.”
The community expressed its worries to “ learn about the plans by the Lagos State Government to concession Lagos water infrastructure to privatisers under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model of water privatization.
“We are using this medium to express our dissatisfaction about the current state of the Epe mini waterworks which has not produced a single drop of water for years for the people. The non-functioning of the waterworks has made some of us resort to any available source to get water including from unwholesome sources. We largely depend on boreholes or endure a long-distance trek to fetch water at exorbitant prices.”
