Lagos Water Network Serves Just 1% of Residents - Corporation

The Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) says its water network serves 34,424 registered households, representing about 1.03% of the state’s estimated 20 million residents.

The corporation’s Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs and Brand Management, Rasaq Anifowoshe, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Sunday.

“Using an estimated average household size of six persons, the number of residents associated with these connections is 206,444, an equivalent to approximately 1.03% of the state’s estimated population of 20 million,” he said.

Anifowoshe said LWC had an installed production capacity of about 210 million gallons daily, compared with the state’s estimated demand of 540 million gallons.

However, the corporation’s 2025 records showed average daily production of just 7.21 million gallons, about 3% of its installed capacity.

He identified ageing pipelines, population growth, rapid urbanisation and inadequate infrastructure as major obstacles to expanding public water supply.

The shortfall has forced many residents to depend on vendors and private boreholes, increasing household expenses.

At Iponri Housing Estate, Adebayo Solomon told NAN that his household spent about ₦1,500 daily on vendor-supplied water, amounting to ₦45,000 monthly.

In Oworonshoki, Amanda Ogbodo said some homes received public water but suffered from low pressure, particularly in elevated areas.

The challenge extends beyond household connections. In February, the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources told Nairametrics that 1.5 million residents were actively served by the public system.

It said the reported 44% network coverage included residents who had access to mains but lacked household connections.

The state has begun rehabilitating the Iju and Adiyan water facilities, with work scheduled to run from February to October 2026.

Anifowoshe said planned interventions included upgrading mini and micro waterworks, extending distribution networks and digitising infrastructure to reduce water losses.

He also announced plans for a 100-million-gallon-per-day treatment plant along the Lekki-Epe corridor.

The corporation has also pursued public-private partnerships to rehabilitate facilities and expand supply, with targets including longer daily supply hours and reduced water losses.

For residents, the impact will depend on whether the projects deliver reliable water to more homes.