The Ilaje Water Security Project Research Team at the University of Lagos, in partnership with the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), Bariga LCDA, government officials, and Ilaje community residents, has taken a significant step toward addressing the community’s long-standing potable water challenges.

During a stakeholders’ dissemination meeting held at the University of Lagos, participants deliberated on sustainable and climate-friendly solutions to the water issues in Ilaje.

The project, led by Dr Temitope Sogbanmu, an Environmental Toxicologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Lagos, aims to identify durable solutions to water challenges in low and middle-income communities.

Ilaje was chosen as a model community in Nigeria due to its proximity to the university and the severity of its water-related issues. The project, also ongoing in India and South Africa, conducted community mapping and water testing in Ilaje.

Findings revealed that the community has only three functional government-provided water points, forcing residents to rely on natural water sources. These sources are salty, causing skin irritation and discomfort.

Tests conducted by trained community members using rapid test kits found no parasites but detected harmful microbes and chemical elements, including lead, arsenic, fluoride, and iron, in some borehole water samples.

Sogbanmu emphasised that the project’s aim was not to provide temporary solutions like digging boreholes but to enable the community to understand the root causes of their water challenges and collaborate on sustainable remedies. “We wanted to open their eyes to the real issues and co-create with them sustainable ways to address the water challenges,” she said.

She assured attendees of follow-up actions with government stakeholders, several of whom exchanged contact information with community representatives during the meeting.

The Director of Water Distribution Network at Lagos Water Corporation, Bolaji Ogunlewe, described the initiative as timely and pledged continued efforts to resolve Ilaje’s water issues.

“We are here to listen and take the feedback seriously. Work is ongoing on resolving the water issue in Ilaje, and we will see it through,” he said.

Ilaje community chairman, Babatunde Daniel, praised the project for its collaborative approach. “We’ve had NGOs and agencies come around before, but this one is different. It taught us how to tell quality water from bad water, and we spoke directly to the people that matter,” he said.

Dr Olanike Buraimoh, an Associate Professor of Microbiology at the University of Lagos, underscored the importance of focusing on Ilaje due to its proximity to the university. “We cannot ignore the suffering of a community that is just next door. It was important to start with those closest to us,” she said.

University officials, including Dr Olasunbo Olusanya, lauded the project’s approach, which combined citizen science with direct community engagement. “It allowed residents to voice their concerns directly to government agencies and encouraged genuine conversation,” Olusanya said.