Lagos to rehabilitate federal govt’s wastewater treatment plants

A new dawn may be in offing for residents in federal government owned estates and establishments in Lagos as the state authorities have indicated interest to rehabilitate all the existing wastewater treatment plants.

Discussions on the modalities, especially structured institutional capacity development, legal, regulatory and institutional reforms aimed at improving compliance, management and economic viability in the sector as well as funding and investment strategy may soon be worked out between officials of the state and federal government.

The plants to be affected include Federal – owned wastewater treatment plants located in FESTAC / Satellite towns, Gowon Estate, Trade Fair Complex, 1004 Estate, Nigerian Law School, PHCN Thermal Station (Egbin), University of Lagos, School of Nursing (Obalende) and Muritala Mohammed airport.

Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Samuel Adejare, who addressed first ministerial press briefing of the environment ministry held to commemorate the one year in office of the current administration in the state made the revelations, and urged Lagos residents to desist from unhygienic practices that are detrimental to the health of the environment and its inhabitants.

In his address, the realities of the insufficient waste water treatment infrastructure in the state coupled with the non –compliance of individuals to the required standards of waste water management and drainage channelization in the construction of buildings were brought to the fore. Sadly, environmental health is at risk at the moment, the report revealed.

In line with this, the commissioner said the ministry is issuing a new directive to stop the direct channelization of waste water of any category into ‘soak away’ systems, public drains or water bodies.
“It is wrong for you to channel your waste water directly, to use pit latrine, to dispose anti-bacterial soaps, bleaches, paints, solvents, pesticides, other toxic chemicals and harsh cleaning products into the septic tanks and all wastewater from the showers, sinks, dishwasher or washing machine should be re-directed into the septic tank now,” he stated.

He further revealed that the state-owned wastewater treatment plants, four in number, is inadequate to cater for the state’s population strength which he said is in the range of 22 million and as such the state government plans to boost capacity by integrating this number with federal government-owned waste water treatment facilities in Lagos State.

“On water, he lamented that the government cannot afford to fill the gap that exists between the current capacity of the state water corporations and the required daily volume for the state’s use. According to him, the private sector is thus encouraged to invest in the sector.