The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) on Thursday in Lagos inaugurated the rehabilitated 2.4 million gallon per day Apapa mini waterworks.
The Apapa mini waterworks was first constructed in 1982 under the leadership of the late Alhaji Lateef Jakande, former Governor of Lagos State.
The waterworks faced numerous challenges and was abandoned for over 15 years which impeded its operations and compromised water supply to the community.
The waterworks project was through NPA, in conjunction with the Lagos Channel Management Ltd., and the Apapa Local Government.
Speaking, Mr Mohammed Bello Koko, Managing Director, NPA, said the project was one of the authority’s contributions to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Number 6.
The goal is on availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Bello-Koko added that the goal was in harmony with the authority’s dedication to the welfare of people living and working in the vicinity of the ports.
“Responding to the residential needs of our operating environment with strong priority for our Cooperate Social Responsibility agenda and this explains why we gave speedy approval for the project which has been non-functional for a while.
“The successful commissioning today of this 2.4 million gallons per day water project is the beginning of the NPA to enhance the living conditions of our port locations,” he said.
He reiterated the intention of the authority to intensify necessary collaboration and partnership geared toward improvement of lives of stakeholders and communities.
“Recall that the authority rehabilitated the Accident and Emergency Ward of the Apapa General Hospital recently,” he said.
He employed all users to take frontline ownership of the investment and ensure that it was adequately maintained.
“We should not forget that there are other communities under the NPA in other locations around the country. We will work with them to ensure that the recticulation is done.
“On the maintenance, it will be under the local government to ensure that the place is secured and to avoid vandalism. NPA will not be involved with the maintenance,” he said.
Mrs Kesi Seun-Adedamola, General Manager, Legal Services, Lagos Channel Management (LCM), noted that the company which is 60 per cent owned by NPA, sponsored the project.
According to Seun-Adedamola, it is a laudable project to undertake within the LCM’s host community and thus the need to finance it with millions of Naira.
“An appeal was made through NPA for the rehabilitation of the project and we were directed by it to look into it.
“On phase two, which is the recticulation, everybody has put their case forward, I’m not an approving authority, all the approving authorities have heard them. I am sure they will direct, accordingly,” she said.
She noted that the teething problem encountered had to do with miscommunication, due to many stakeholders involved in the project.
“But this wasn’t just a problem, it was just to have a common meeting point and by the time we finished, everything worked perfectly,” she said.
Mrs Idowu Shobanjo, Chairman, Apapa local government area, urged the NPA managing director to look into the second phase which had to do with recticulation.
Shobanjo noted that despite the availability of water after fixing leakages, efforts should be made to ensure that the gesture did not go unnoticed.
On maintenance, she noted that they would ensure that the place is maintained, in working condition and water provided the residents of Apapa.
“There are other things they will have to do, add one or two other wheels to increase the capacity and we are hoping to get more water from Adion, Iju to boost the water here.
“As regards maintenance, it’s up to the Lagos State Water Corporation to do that,” she said.
Earlier, Mr Adekunle Badmus, Managing Director, Lagos Water Corporation, said the transformative water facility was not simply a testament to our commitment but a lifeline for the Apapa community and its neighbouring areas.
According to him, it will serve as a reliable and sustainable source of potable water, fostering the well-being and prosperity of the we passionately serve.
“Today’s ceremony marks a significant milestone in our mission to provide a reliable water supply to the Apapa community, and we recognise that there is still much work to be done.
“We are acutely aware of the need to restore the waterworks to its optimal capacity, bridging the gap in water demand and enhancing service efficiency.
“To this end, the Lagos Water Corporation is already embarking on the drilling of an additional borehole to improve the raw water supply to the treatment plant.
“ We are committed to leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that clean and safe water reaches every household. In this endeavour, we eagerly look forward to fostering even stronger partnerships with NPA and other stakeholders,” he said.
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