Some Lagos residents have called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s government to make potable water accessible.

They disclosed this in separate interviews on Monday in Lagos on World Water Day.

They urged the Lagos government to reduce the spread of water-borne diseases by providing potable water.

According to the World Health Organisation, water scarcity affects one in three people in Africa and worsens with population growth, urbanisation, and increases in household and industrial use.

While some residents attributed the lack of potable water in the state to poor management and inadequate infrastructure, others linked it to a lack of investment and human capital.

A resident in Akowonjo LGA, Ibrahim Mustapha, a businessman, expressed dissatisfaction with the scarcity of potable water in their neighbourhood.

“I am a 54-year-old man, and I can tell you that the last time I enjoyed public-sourced potable water was in my youth days. We have had to rely on a private-generated water supply, which is not a good thing,” said Mr Mustapha.

Another resident, Folake Davies, a dentist who lives around Yaba, said the unavailability of potable water had led to increased household expenditure.

“This has resulted in buying sachet water for drinking and borehole water in gallons for other domestic use. This has added extra financial burden on residents that are struggling already and posing environmental challenges like plastic pollution,” said Ms Davies.

A Makoko resident, Saheed Abbas, an artisan, lamented the hardship of accessing potable water.

“Before residents can access clean water in Makoko, they have to trek for a long distance. Some of them even use motorcycles to get clean water,” he said.

A resident living in Igando, Lydia Anjorin, a business manager, was sad about how much water she used to purchase in the area.

Kayode Aderibigbe, a Lekki resident, expressed frustration with the water shortage.

“I was recently forced to relocate my family to my in-laws’ home due to a two-day water outage. I had to stay at one of my properties in Magodo just to take a bath. The situation in Lekki is really disheartening,” Mr Aderibigbe said.

However, for Ese Ayanwun, a Lekki resident, access to clean water has become a reality in her area due to the efforts of the local waterworks.

Ms Ayanwun said a water storage tank had been installed in her house to provide them with a reliable source of clean water.

Areas such as Ajah, Ajao Estate, Ebute Metta, FESTAC and others also lack access to potable water.

A general physician, Tunji Akintade, said lack of access to safe water leads to several health problems, including water-borne diseases, malnutrition, and increased vulnerability to infections.

According to him, contaminated water and poor sanitation are linked to the transmission of diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis A, typhoid, and numerous neglected tropical diseases.

He urged the government to improve access to clean and safe water to enhance the health of citizens.

The Lagos State Water Corporation spokesman, Anifowoshe Rasaq, could not be reached for comments.

(NAN)