A major stride toward ensuring equitable access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services was taken in Lagos as WaterAid Nigeria, in partnership with DP World, formally launched the Advancing Inclusive Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (AI WASH) Project. The event, held in Lagos on Wednesday October 22, 2025, marked the beginning of a collaborative effort aimed at improving public health, gender equity, and environmental sustainability across selected communities.
Representing the WaterAid Country Director, Evelyn Mere, Iorkumbor Emmanuel, Head of Grant Strategic Partnership and Head of Strategy Performance Effectiveness and Learning (SPEL) at WaterAid Nigeria, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to deepening access to clean water and sanitation facilities through strategic collaboration with government and private partners.
“WaterAid has found a dependable ally in the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources,” Emmanuel said. “They have provided the leadership and direction that continues to guide our work. Our focus is to demonstrate models that work in Ojodu and Ikorodu North LCDAs – models that can be scaled up across Lagos State.”
He further announced that WaterAid had secured fresh funding from InfiWall Logistics, supported by PepsiCo Corporation, to sustain interventions in Lagos communities and schools over the next 12 months.
“Today marks a very special milestone as we introduce the AI WASH project, aligned with WaterAid’s vision of achieving universal access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene by 2030,” Emmanuel noted. “This partnership signifies inclusivity and shared responsibility, ensuring everyone has a role in creating a healthier Lagos.”
Emmanuel emphasised WaterAid’s strategy of “saturation and sustainability”, ensuring that interventions do not end with infrastructure delivery but extend into long-term management and behavioural change.
He disclosed that a five-year investment plan has been developed for the participating Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) to help local authorities plan, budget, and sustain facilities.
“Sustainability is not an afterthought; it begins now,” he explained. “Local councils must start budgeting for the repair and replacement of facilities, not just commissioning new ones. Our goal is 24/7 access to clean water in every community.”
He added that WaterAid’s behavioural change campaign targets schools and households as change agents, promoting hygiene education and discouraging open defecation.
Babatunde Akinwunmi, Deputy Director, Office of Drainage and Water Resources, who represented the Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, commended WaterAid’s impact across the state.
“We appreciate WaterAid’s consistent inclusion of DP World as a funding partner,” Akinwunmi said. “Virtually all schools and primary health centres in Ikorodu and Ojodu LCDAs have benefited. However, we must now move from provision to sustainability. We expect more ownership and maintenance from the councils and communities.”
He urged that the successful model be replicated in other LCDAs across the state, emphasising that the sustainability of existing facilities should take priority before new expansions.
In his remarks, Mayor Ameen Olawale Ibrahim Apanisile, Executive Chairman of Ikorodu North LCDA, expressed appreciation to WaterAid and DP World for their support, pledging his council’s commitment to sustain the gains made.
“We are complementing WaterAid’s efforts by preaching maintenance and ownership to our communities,” he said. “If people take care of these facilities, more projects will come. But if they neglect them, resources that could go into new projects will be spent on repairs. Ownership is the key.”
Representing the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, the Director of Basic Education Services lauded the tangible improvements the WASH initiatives have brought to schools across Lagos.
“For helping our schools overcome water scarcity and sanitation challenges, we are grateful,” he stated. “We have introduced monitoring systems to ensure proper maintenance and accountability. WaterAid’s impact is visible and commendable.”
Speaking on behalf of the WaterAid fundraising team, Ruth Agwulobi reiterated that the AI WASH Project seeks to advance inclusive and sustainable WASH services for improved health and equity, with a strong focus on women, girls, and vulnerable populations.
“Our goal is simple – every woman, girl, and family deserves safe access to water, sanitation, and hygiene,” she affirmed.
The AI WASH project is expected to serve as a blueprint for sustainable and inclusive WASH programming in Lagos State, combining technical expertise, private-sector funding, and government leadership to ensure long-term impact.
Emmanuel concluded: “We are not just bringing money; we are bringing solutions—and asking the government and communities to bring their commitment. Together, we can make safe water and sanitation a reality for all.”
By Ajibola Adedoye