Residents of Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have called on Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to immediately address the ongoing issue of inadequate access to clean and potable water in the area.
The residents also expressed concern over the situation, urging the local council to speed up plans to provide a sustainable solution. They said many households rely on alternatives like private boreholes, wells, water vendors, and sachet water due to unreliable public supply, describing these options as costly and sometimes unsafe.
They appealed to the government to prioritise fixing broken boreholes, providing new water facilities, and improving water distribution. A resident, Mrs Funke Adeyemi, described the situation as worrisome, saying many families have limited options.
She added that some residents fetch water from sinking boreholes that produce brownish water for domestic use. “We rely mostly on buying water from vendors and sachet water for drinking. It is expensive and not everyone can afford it daily”.
“Sometimes, we even resort to well water, which is not always clean,” she said.
Another resident , Mr Sadiq Bello, attributed the problem to poor infrastructure and lack of proper maintenance of existing water facilities. “Some of the boreholes provided are no longer functioning, and no one seems to be maintaining them. This is why the problem has remained unresolved.
“Past administrations gave us water tankers and boreholes, but they’re not working anymore due to lack of maintenance,” he said.
Similarly, Miss Kemi Ogunleye called for more transparency and swift implementation of water projects.
“The council needs to be more open about their plans and timelines. People are suffering, and we need urgent action, not just promises,” she said.
The residents also expressed concern that the approaching rainy season could worsen the situation if proactive measures are not taken.
Mr Dele Akinyele said: “With the rains coming, the wells can easily get contaminated, and flooding may affect water sources. This is why the government needs to act quickly to provide safe water.”
Also, Mr Chinedu Okafor highlighted the health risks associated with unsafe water, especially during the rainy period.
“During the rainy season, we often experience cases of waterborne diseases because people end up using contaminated water. This is a serious issue that needs urgent attention,” he said.
