The Lagos State government is optimistic that the Adiyan Water Works with the capacity to deliver 70 million gallons per day to Lagos homes will be ready soon.
The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, gave the assurance during the Citizens’ Engagement Forum, organized by the Lagos State Ministry of Information, in Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday.
Omotoso said that despite the challenges the state government is facing in making pipe borne water available to the people of the state, it is making frantic efforts to tackle them head-on.
He explained that the state government has signed an agreement with the Ogun State government, who owned the water reservoir in Adiyan, where Lagos State is expecting to get water supply.
The commissioner noted that the sum of N600 million has been paid to the Ogun State government for the supply of the 70 million gallons of water per day.
Omotoso said that as part of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu THEMES+ Development Agenda, the state government will soon commission a new general hospital in Ojo to cater to the health needs of the residents.
He said that the General Hospital in Ojo “is one of the very best that the health sector can showcase around this time. This is the first general hospital the Lagos State government is building in a decade.”
Omotoso said: “Apart from that, around Epe, we are building a Mental Health Centre. People go to hospitals to treat malaria and not many of us talk about mental health. All over the world because of the economic situation, because of social factors, so many other things affect mental health. This is a formidable attempt.”
He said: “In health, we are also building the Massey Street Children’s Hospital, which will be the best in sub-Saharan Africa. It is all about bringing down infant mortality.
“This is aimed at addressing infant mortality and improving healthcare. Our women will no longer have to worry about the inadequacies they face while giving birth. We are also tackling child birth syndrome, which has affected the health sector.”
The commissioner also noted that the government is building a food logistics hub in Epe, which will be the largest in sub-Saharan Africa once completed.
According to him: “This first phase of the facility will be commissioned this year, and once it’s operational, it will be able to store food to feed at least five million people every three months. If inflation remains high, this facility will help bring down prices in the market, benefiting Lagosians.”
Reeling out the administration’s feat in the area of water transportation, Omotoso said: “In May 29, 2024, Mr. Governor went to commission 15 boats. These ferries are comparable to any you can find anywhere in the world, ferries built by our young engineers here in Lagos.
“These ferries are not just modes of transportation; they symbolize what is possible in Nigeria and Lagos. They were built in Lagos by our own engineers. Very soon, we will commission about 10 more to bring the total to 25.
“In Lagos, we have been able to provide three modes of transportation. If you want to take the train today from Agbado all the way to Marina, it only takes about 35 minutes of smooth riding, compared to the hours of walking and sweating it used to take.
If you want to travel by water, as I’ve said, it only takes about 35 minutes from Ikorodu to the Island. Many routes have been opened on the waterways, and many jetties have been built.”
“As of the last count, about 16 jetties are ready for commissioning in so many places. Last year, we also made progress in many areas, including roads,” he added.
In his submission Monzor Olowosago, publisher of Oriwu Sun Community Newspaper advised the Lagos state government to focus on the community newspapers as partners because they are the closest to the community and they have more information on what is happening in the grassroot than the national newspapers.
