The Lagos State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, with an international consortium comprising Belstar Capital and ENKA to rehabilitate and expand the state’s water supply infrastructure.
Tokunbo Wahab, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, announced the development in a statement on Monday, stating that the initiative aims to address Lagos State’s pressing water infrastructure challenges.
“This project entails construction, rehabilitation, and installation of water treatment facilities as well as distribution networks to provide a reliable and sustainable water supply to underserved communities,” Wahab said.
He added that the initiative would also see the establishment of new waterworks to ease distribution bottlenecks.
He assured that the project would comply with all relevant regulations, including social and safety standards, to ensure responsible and sustainable execution.
According to Wahab, the initiative is structured into two categories: the “Brown Field” phase, which involves the rehabilitation of existing waterworks, and the “Green Field” phase, which covers the construction of brand-new waterworks in various locations across Lagos.
The Managing Director of Lagos Water Corporation, LWC, Mukhtaar Tijani, stated that the corporation would work closely with the consortium, providing development support, technical expertise, and stakeholder engagement to ensure the project’s success.
“The projects will not only deliver potable water to communities currently without access but will also contribute significantly to the eradication of water-related diseases in Lagos,” Tijani said.
Tewodros Polk, Group Managing Director of Belstar Capital, reaffirmed the consortium’s commitment to the initiative. He said the consortium would leverage its technical expertise to ensure long-term productivity and effective service delivery.
Polk further pledged that local subcontractors would be engaged throughout the various project phases to promote capacity building and drive sustainable development.
He noted that the project would be implemented using the Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Finance, EPCF model, with insurance coverage provided by the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation.
