There is need for Lagos State Government to support the regulatory commission in carrying out their role for effective regulation in the water sanitation sector of the state in order to achieve equitable service delivery both for the consumers and service providers.
Dr. Adebayo Alao, WaterAid Lagos Programme Lead, made this submission while giving his remarks at the Learning Meeting with the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) on the way forward towards the provision of clean water, sanitation and hygiene for residents of the state.
Dr. Alao said: “The cholera outbreak currently rampaging the state can be traced to the contamination of the water bodies but if there is adequate regulation of those that are managing sanitation especially those that are providing water services even at the level of council or community level, they are suppose to have the necessary and the skills to know that water facilities should not be located or sided close to each other because of that interaction, then you will see that some of these things will be greatly reduced.
“So, the government should should support the regulators in their quest to have well sanitised water sanitation sector. I am also happy to see that the Water Sanitation Hygiene Policy that has been approved by the government has helped us to clarify roles and responsibilities, so through that policy issues around overlapping functions have been removed so every agency is now very clear on their mandate and what responsibility they have in relation to water sanitation hygiene services. There is need for those at the local government level to cooperate with the regulators at the state level because practices that abound at the council level is more dealing with those that are not licensed to operate. Laising with those at the state level will help bring sanity into the profession which will bring about quality service delivery.”
Dr. Alao reiterated: “WaterAid is interested in making sure that everyone everywhere has access to adequate sanitation and water supply services in order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals-SDG 6 that says everyone should have access to safely managed sanitation by year 2030, that is why we are collaborating with with government agencies to enable us meet the target.”
The Learning Session helped build a stronger relationship with LSWARCO, in their areas of responsibility, operational scope, and challenges relating to WASH and aligning efforts to improve water and sanitation services.
The stakeholders meeting sponsored by Later-Day Saints Charities witnessed representatives from Lagos Water Cooperation (LWC), Lagos State Waste Water Management Office (LASWAMO), as well as three LCDAs (Ikorodu North, Ojodu and Ikotun Egando) and other relevant agencies and MDAs.
By Ajibola Adedoye
