Nestlé Nigeria Plc has commissioned eight climate-smart boreholes and water treatment plants in communities within the Agbara catchment in Ogun State as part of its Water Regeneration Project.

These facilities form part of a wider programme spanning the Agbara catchment in Ogun State and the Abaji catchment in the Federal Capital Territory.

According to the company, the water regeneration project is structured around four connected pillars, which include water access, delivered through 24 climate-smart boreholes-eight in Agbara and 16 in Abaji and water quality, supported by treatment plants, routine monitoring, the National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign and practical water safety guidance.

Others are water conservation, advanced through rainwater harvesting systems and water governance, strengthened through community water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) committees and governance training.

In a statement by the Corporate Affairs Manager, Toju Egbebi, the company said these measures provide local oversight, clarify responsibilities for safe operation, preventive maintenance, fault reporting and water quality checks, and strengthen community ownership to protect the long-term value of the infrastructure.

“For Nestlé Waters and Premium Beverages, the water regeneration project links measurable community impact with watershed resilience, responsible water management and business continuity. It provides an integrated model in which infrastructure expands access, treatment safeguards quality, rainwater harvesting supports conservation, advocacy strengthens stewardship and local governance sustains performance,” the statement reads.

Speaking at the commissioning, the Business Executive Officer, Nestlé Waters and Premium Beverages, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Olutayo Olatunji, said the Agbara commissioning is an important milestone within the company’s wider water regeneration project and reflects Nestlé’s commitment to helping regenerate local water cycles.

Olatunji said by combining treated water infrastructure with local governance and performance monitoring, the company is creating a model that improves access, strengthens watershed resilience and delivers enduring value.

“As we finalise the remaining scope, our focus remains on rigorous delivery and measurable outcomes that benefit communities and support business continuity,” Olatunji stated.

Also Speaking on the project, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, said commissioning a facility is only the beginning, but ensuring that it continues to provide safe, reliable and sustainable service is the true measure of success.

“It is encouraging that this initiative places strong emphasis on governance and water stewardship through the development of a governance training manual for water regeneration and stewardship,” he stated.

In his address, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, added that this project demonstrates what strategic public-private collaboration can achieve.

He said by working with regulators, local authorities and host communities, Nestlé has supported an ecosystem for sustainable and equitable access to safe drinking water.

According to him, the initiative advances Sustainable Development Goal 6 and aligns with Nigeria’s environmental priorities.

Welcoming the project on behalf of the host community, Olute III, the Alagbara of Agbara Kingdom, Lukman Jayeola Agunbiade, said: “Today is a day of gratitude for the people of Agbara. Safe water touches every part of our lives: the health of our children, the dignity of our homes and the hopes of our families.

“Today, it has come closer to all of us. But Agbara has received more than boreholes; we have received a responsibility. As custodians of this land, I charge our chiefs, Baales, WASH committees and every resident to treat these facilities as our own, guard them against misuse and report faults promptly. What has been started here today, Agbara will sustain for our children and for generations yet unborn.”

Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, Victoria Uwadoka, said the company, through the National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign and the National Water Quality Handbook developed with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and OPS-WASH, is helping to take water safety knowledge beyond project sites into homes, schools, communities and institutions.

She said access alone is not enough as water must be safe and protected, while communities must have the knowledge to manage it responsibly.

She said the commissioning of the projects in Agbara reflects the strength of collaboration among public authorities, regulators, traditional institutions, community leaders, WASH Committees, OPS-WASH and other technical partners.

As the Abaji sites are completed and handed over, Nestlé Nigeria will maintain its focus on disciplined delivery, transparent validation and strong local ownership to create lasting value for communities, strengthen watershed resilience and support the long-term sustainability of the business