Lagos water network serves only 1.03% of 20 million residents: LWC

The Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) says its water network serves 34,424 registered households, representing an estimated 1.03 per cent of the state’s 20 million residents.

The corporation’s spokesperson, Rasaq Anifowoshe, said this in an exclusive interview with journalists in Lagos on Sunday, responding to questions about the LWC’s water coverage and expansion plans.

“Using an estimated average household size of six persons, the number of residents associated with these connections is 206,444, equivalent to approximately 1.03 per cent of the state’s estimated population of 20 million,” he said.

Mr Anifowoshe said the corporation had an installed water production capacity of about 210 million gallons per day (MGD).

He said this is against an estimated state’s daily water demand of approximately 540 MGD, as stated in the Lagos State Water Supply Master Plan.

“A review of the corporation’s 2025 production records indicates an aggregate annual production of approximately 2,633.22 million gallons, equivalent to an average daily production of about 7.21 MGD.

“Based on these records, actual daily production is three per cent of the installed capacity,” he said.

The figures highlight a substantial gap between installed capacity, actual output and estimated water demand across Lagos State.

Mr Anifowoshe identified ageing distribution pipelines, increasing demand from population growth and rapid urbanisation, and the need to rehabilitate and expand existing water infrastructure as the major constraints.

Across Lagos, residents spend thousands of naira on alternative water sources as irregular public supply and inaccessible connections increase household costs.

Some Lagos residents across Iponri, Oworonshoki, Costain, Apapa Road, and Ebute Metta revealed concerns about unreliable supply, failed facilities and inadequate water pressure.

At the Iponri Housing Estate, Adebayo Solomon said his household spends about N1,500 daily on vendor-supplied water, amounting to N45,000 monthly.

Another Iponri resident, Abdulkareem Ibrahim, said he relied on public boreholes provided by philanthropists because his community received no LWC supply.

“I depend on public water, the one provided by philanthropists. I fetch it in the morning or when I return from work at night,” he said.

In Oworonshoki, Amanda Ogbodo said she spent between N2,200 and N3,600 weekly on vendor-delivered borehole water.

She said the LWC water had flowed more consistently in parts of her area over the preceding four months, mainly from Friday afternoons into Saturday.

“We plead with the government to help us run the pipe again and resume provision of constant water access,” she said.

At Costain, Eniola Adewale said a truckload of water costs between N1,200 and N1,500, with vendors sometimes doubling prices during shortages.

She said her household relied on mobile vendors because the public facility was distant and supplied water irregularly.

Eunice David, a food vendor on Thomas Street, Costain, said she spent substantial amounts monthly pumping water for household use after a public water facility that had previously served her community had been non-functional for some time.

At Vaughan Street in Costain, Anthony Olamide, a point-of-sale operator, said residents had an LWC connection, although supply depended largely on electricity.

Mr Olamide said residents contributed N1,000 monthly towards water supply, reducing alternative-water expenses when public water was available.

However, power outages stopped supply, sometimes forcing households to buy from vendors.

At Olaogun Street, Abule-Nla Junction, Ebute Metta, Esther Emokpaire said her household spent between N1,000 and N1,500 per truckload of vendor-supplied water.

Residents’ accounts show how irregular supply, failed facilities and inadequate pressure leave households paying for alternatives, including in communities with existing public connections.

However, the Lagos State government’s second-quarter 2026 budget implementation report showed that 36.2 per cent of the approved annual budget for improving 15 existing mini and micro waterworks had been spent by June 30.

The report also recorded expenditure equivalent to four per cent of the approved annual budget for the Adiyan Phase II Waterworks project.

These expenditure figures do not establish the projects’ physical completion status or how much water they currently supply.

Speaking on the corporation’s plan to increase public water coverage across the state, Anifowoshe disclosed plans to rehabilitate and upgrade micro/mini treatment plants.

“This will make water accessible to over 5,616,000 households upon full rehabilitation, thereby fulfilling the mandate of the corporation to provide potable water to Lagosians,” he said.

Meanwhile, the corporation has announced plans to rehabilitate Ojokoro Mini Waterworks and construct Lagos Island Micro Waterworks to improve public water supply.

He also disclosed plans to construct the Igbonla 100 MGD water treatment plant to boost supply along the Lekki-Epe corridor.

(NAN)