Ensuring Dignity for Our Retirees
As I embark on this journey to serve as your next governor, I want to emphasize the importance of our civil service reform. My government will ensure that all benefits accruing to the retirees who have served Lagos State are paid promptly. We owe it to these dedicated individuals who have contributed their lives to building our great state. I promise to place all retirees under a comprehensive free medical insurance plan, ensuring they receive the healthcare they deserve.
In addition, I will implement a scholarship program for the children of indigent retirees, providing them with opportunities for education that can help uplift their families. Every retiree deserves to know that their sacrifices have not gone unnoticed and that their families will be supported long after they have dedicated their lives to public service.
Water: A Fundamental Right for Every Lagosian
Under the #BetterLagosAgenda2027 (Àtuntọ Èkó 1.0), ensuring access to safe, reliable, and affordable potable water will be one of my top priorities as your governor. Despite being surrounded by water, only 5-10% of our over 22 million residents currently have access to reliable piped potable water. This is unacceptable! Daily demand exceeds 700 million gallons, and the lack of a structured supply system forces many families to rely on unregulated sources, leading to serious public health issues.
A Comprehensive Potable Water Policy
I will implement a Comprehensive Potable Water Policy that re-engineers the entire water value chain through a multi-faceted strategy combining state leadership, private-sector efficiency, and community participation. Here are the key pillars of the Àtuntọ Èkó Water Revolution:
- Independent Water Projects (IWP) in All Five Divisions: I will establish modern, solar-hybrid water treatment plants and mini-desalination facilities across the five divisions of Lagos: Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Epe, and Lagos Island. These facilities will operate on a dedicated state-owned water grid, ensuring every Local Government Area receives consistent water supply.
- Rehabilitation and Expansion of Existing Infrastructure: My government will immediately complete and scale up the existing pilot Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for mini and micro waterworks while maintaining robust state regulatory oversight. We will rehabilitate existing waterworks such as Adiyan, Iju, and Ishasi, aiming to reduce non-revenue water from over 60% to below 20% within the first two years.
- Community-Based Water Access Points: I will deploy over 500 solar-powered Water ATMs and treated community boreholes across all 20 Local Government Areas, focusing on underserved and low-income communities. Each Emergency Response Centre will include a dedicated potable water station to support rapid deployment during floods or outages.
- Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Measures: My administration will mandate rainwater harvesting systems in all new public and private buildings. I will introduce large-scale wastewater recycling plants for non-potable uses, which will help protect our freshwater resources.
- Affordability and Quality Assurance: We will introduce tiered, subsidized tariffs, providing a free minimum daily allowance for households earning below the poverty line. Real-time digital water quality monitoring labs will be established in every division to ensure compliance with WHO standards.
Funding and Implementation Framework
To ensure the success of this initiative, I will attract over N200 billion in private investment through transparent Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (BFOT) models. Additionally, I will ring-fence 15% of our annual state budget for water infrastructure. We will explore international climate and development grants, green bonds, and investment opportunities from the diaspora to support our vision.
Timeline and Expected Impact
Our action plan will unfold over four years:
- Year 1: Rapid rehabilitation of existing assets and the launch of the first three Independent Water Projects.
- Years 2-3: Full rollout of the water projects across all divisions and Local Government Areas.
- Year 4: Achieve at least 70% household access to safe piped or community potable water.
This policy will eliminate dependence on unsafe water sources, drastically reduce waterborne diseases, and create thousands of jobs in construction, maintenance, and technology. Ultimately, it will position Lagos as West Africa’s model for sustainable urban water management.
Conclusion: A Vision for Dignity and Prosperity
Àtuntọ Èkó is not just about infrastructure; it is about dignity, health, and prosperity in every home. As your governor, I will ensure that no Lagosian is left thirsty. Together, we can transform Lagos into a city where every resident has access to the basic necessities of life, and where our civil servants are honored and supported. Join me in this vision for a better Lagos!
#Laja4BetterLagos2027 - Àtuntọ Èkó 1.0, Re-Engineering Lagos for Inclusive Prosperity
