WaterAid Nigeria and the Ikorodu North Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have reaffirmed their commitment to improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), with the council increasing its investment in the sector to about N100 million.

The commitment was reaffirmed on Thursday at a WASH stakeholders’ town hall meeting in Ikeja, where government officials, community leaders and residents reviewed progress on WASH interventions and strategies for sustaining them.

The WASH Manager for WaterAid Nigeria, Godfrey Iloha, said that the organisation focuses on influencing policies and mobilising governments and partners to improve access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.

According to him, WaterAid does not directly construct WASH facilities but advocates increased government investment and community participation to ensure sustainable services.

“We work with state and local governments to influence policies and investments that will ensure sustainable access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene,” he said.

Mr Iloha said WaterAid had, for the first time in Ikorodu North, created a platform where residents engaged elected representatives directly on WASH challenges.

He noted the initiative had improved government understanding of community priorities and accelerated interventions.

According to him, the council had replicated three WaterAid-inspired WASH projects in different communities.

He stated the LCDA initially committed N70 million for the projects but had increased the investment to about N100 million, describing the development as a demonstration of stronger political commitment.

Mr Iloha reiterated that access to water, sanitation and hygiene was a fundamental human right and pledged WaterAid’s continued support for governments and communities to deliver sustainable and inclusive WASH services.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Community Development Committee, Ikorodu North LCDA, Adeniran Ogunbanwo, said the council had sustained virtually all WaterAid interventions through community ownership and government support.

Mr Ogunbanwo said the council was constructing three additional water facilities using WaterAid’s model, with the first expected to be completed next month.

He noted the town hall had helped communities identify and prioritise WASH challenges while understanding appropriate channels for engaging the government.

According to him, the environmental health department has intensified advocacy against open defecation and encouraging private sector investment in public toilets and water facilities.

He said the council was willing to provide land for credible investors interested in developing public sanitation facilities.

Mr Ogunbanwo added that improvements had been expanded at the Odonla Primary Health Centre following WaterAid’s intervention, and an ambulance was provided to strengthen healthcare delivery.

He said Olorunda Primary Health Centre would begin 24-hour operations before year-end, while additional primary healthcare centres would be upgraded.

He added that the council was replacing temporary health facilities with standard structures and converting electrically powered boreholes to solar-powered systems.

According to him, improved access to safe water and sanitation would reduce preventable diseases and ease pressure on primary healthcare facilities.

The Deputy Mayor and Vice Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA, Matthew Aliu, said the council had partnered with WaterAid since 2022 to improve access to safe water and sanitation in schools, markets, health facilities and communities.

Mr Aliu, represented by the Council Chairman, Ibrahim Apanishile, said government officials had remained actively involved in implementing and sustaining WaterAid projects.

Mr Aliu said he chaired the council’s WASH committee, reflecting the administration’s commitment to long-term sustainability.

According to him, the council had repaired vandalised and faulty facilities while putting structures in place to ensure future administrations continued maintaining completed projects.

He stated, “We want these facilities to remain functional for decades, even after our tenure. “

Mr Aliu said the council also executed similar solar-powered water projects with its own resources in communities, at the LASTMA office and in the Army Children’s School.

He added that eight of the council’s 10 primary health centres had been equipped with solar-powered water systems inspired by WaterAid’s model, providing treated and chlorinated water for public use.

Mr Aliu commended WaterAid for providing more than 20 water facilities across the LCDA.

According to him, replicating such investments solely with council resources would have taken many years.

“WaterAid has made us proud, and we must reciprocate by fulfilling our responsibility as a government to sustain and expand these interventions for our people,” he added. 

(NAN)