Activists urge Lagos government to stop PPPs in water, sanitation sectors

Environmental activists have urged the Lagos State government to stop all Public Private Partnership (PPP) processes initiated by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s government, especially in the water and sanitation sectors.

Deputy Executive Director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoE N), Akinbode Oluwafemi, made the call at a media briefing in Lagos yesterday, insisting on a probe of the Visonscape ‘scandal’ with a view to ascertaining how much it has cost tax payers.

The group is also seeking a review of sections of the Lagos Environment Law that paved way for Visionscape to emerge as the sole refuse management firm in the state and recovery of all monies that Visionscape has received since it started operations in 2017.

Oluwafemi noted that the dismal performance of Visionscape, which resulted in its sack by the Lagos State House of Assembly, is a vindication of the group’s stand that the firm was a hasty contraption intended to milk Lagos citizens.

“The magnitude of such a disaster replicated in the water sector is unimaginable. We will continue agitating till we have clear statements from the state government on its roadmap to ensuring that Lagos citizens enjoy their right to safe and abundant water under a democracy.