CSOs shun Lagos Water Corporation mgt meeting over PPP

• …Says meeting not in public interests

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have shunned an earlier scheduled meeting with the Managing Director of Lagos Water Corporation, Engr. Mukhtaar Tijani.
The CSOs included: the Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF), Environmental Defenders Network (EDEN), Child Health Organisation, Ecumenical Water Network Africa/Blue Communities Africa (EWNA/BCA) and New Life Community Care Initiative (NELCCI).
In a letter to the Managing Director on 17th September, 2025, titled; “RE- Halt the Lagos Water Corporation Public Private Partnership Gamble”, the CSOs acknowledged receiving invitation letters to meet with the Management of the Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) on the pilot Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative, but said the meeting was not in the interest of the public.
The letter which was signed by Philip Jakpor, Executive Director Renevlyn Development Initiative and Sani Baba,
Executive Director itizens Free Service Forum on behalf of the CSOs observed that the stated objectives of the meeting do not address the concerns raised at the September 9, 2025 meeting with the Lagos House of Assembly.
“In that meeting, we expressed disinterest in the PPP as the silver bullet to the Lagos water crisis.
“Our position which was clearly stated to the House members in the presence of the LWC officials in attendance is that the Corporation should convene a genuine stakeholder engagement with a wide spectrum of stakeholders where options for addressing the water crisis including the Public- Public Partnership model can be discussed with a view to adopting democratic control of water.”
He recalled that the Chair of the Committee on Environment (Parastatal), Hon. Shabi Rasheed Adekola at the meeting mentioned the deficit in stakeholder consultation and the need to address it.
“In doing that, we anticipated an open-ended meeting, not a closed space which this proposed meeting represents.
In view of the above we respectfully decline this invitation and urge the LWC management to heed the advice of the House by convening a truly people-focused consultation where civil society and other stakeholders in Lagos can express their views and make propositions.
As we look forward to the above happening, accept the assurances of our highest regards”.
But despite withdrawal of major CSOs at the forefront of the debate, the LWC invited some CSOs who may not understand the issues to endorse their pilot PPP plan.
“We view this as a desperate move by the LWC to further strangle the populace who were already suffocating from harsh policies of government”.