A United Nations human
rights expert yesterday called on the Nigerian Government to increase
funding for water and sanitation in next year’s budget to address the
needs of 21 million residents of Lagos, the country’s largest city,
which continues to grow while access to basic services dwindles.
Léo Heller, Special Rapporteur on the
human rights to water and sanitation, commented on the budget, shortly
after it was presented by the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, to
the House of Assembly, stating that the government’s reports show high
deficits in the sector, “representing clearly unacceptable conditions
for millions of the megacity’s residents.”
According to Heller, the annual budget
discussion is a chance for the city to take action in providing water
and sanitation to the people. He also expressed concerns over the high
numbers of vulnerable people.
“There is no question that the city’s
water and sanitation sector has deteriorated to this point because of
the way it has been managed for many years.”
The Special Rapporteur also presented a
few alternative solutions to the problem for the government to consider,
such as increasing the effectiveness of the public service provider,
adopting necessary financing schemes, and reducing water losses.
“For more than a decade, the Government
has adopted a hard-line policy according to which the solution would
seem to only attract private capital, notably via public-private
partnerships (PPPs). Numerous civil society groups have urged the
Government to guarantee their right to participate in these processes,”
said Heller, adding that the key to an adequate solution is a
participatory process.
In addition, the situation continues to
worsen as the population of Lagos increases, and the resources become
scarce, with an estimated 10 per cent of the population having access to
water supplied by the state utility.
Residents have also been reported
drilling their own boreholes, in hopes to get some water, causing
various environmental and health issues, particularly contaminated water
consumption.
The special rapporteur has reached out
to the Nigerian government earlier this year, and is still waiting for
it to provide an update on the water and sanitation issue.
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