Lagos to regulate water, wastewater providers in estates

The Lagos State Government through its Water Regulatory Commission will leave no stone unturned to properly regulate the charges and water quality of commercial water and wastewater service providers in estates across the State.

The Executive Secretary of the commission, Mrs. Funke Adepoju, stated this during a stakeholders’ engagement in Ikeja with the Lekki Estates Residents and Stakeholders Association (LERSA), which is the umbrella body for over 120 Lekki estates, communities stakeholders from 1004 Area to Epe and Ibeju Lekki.

The event was attended by representatives of various estates in the Lekki area, including Victoria Garden City Property Owners and Residents Association (VGCPORA), CarltonGate Estate and Chevron Drive, among others.

Adepoju said Section 311, Subsection (1) of the Harmonised Lagos State Environmental Management Protection Law, 2017, empowers LASWARCO to protect the long-term interests of consumers with regards to price, quality and reliability of services in the water sector.

According to her, the commission is also statutorily empowered to regulate activities relating to abstraction, provision, consumption, production, supply, distribution, sale and use of water, the quality of service and the tariff payable to ensure financial stability of the water sector and regulate allowable returns to the operators, in public or private water service provision.

Adepoju said: “All required efforts will be channeled in line with the provision of the law to ensure that utility service providers in estates of more than 50 tenements across the state deliver value for money, comply with standards and guidelines, including having the prescribed license and permit, to operate as water service providers.”

The leader of the delegation and President of the environment committee, LERSA, Olorogun James Emadoye, said the association was delighted to note the regulatory reforms being championed by LASWARCO, adding that efforts of the government are well appreciated.

According to him, besides pricing and water quality, the regulatory initiative of LASWARCO will also help to gather useful data.

“We are glad that all our fears are being addressed by the Commission. Where there is regulation, it is not meant to oppress one for another but meant to discharge equity to all stakeholders and this is where we also stand,” he said.