People in Ikorodu and Alapere say they have little or no clean water at home and are buying water or relying on boreholes while they wait for the government to fix things.
“The only threat to my water supply is when the electricity distributing company doesn’t bring light and my tank finishes,” said John Taiwo, a cinematographer in Ikorodu.
Many residents told reporters they depend on electric pumps to fill home tanks. When power cuts happen, the pumps stop and households run out of water. Some people buy sachet or bottled water. Others pay for water from community boreholes.
“I buy 10 gallons of 25-litre water from a community borehole for ₦2,500, and it lasts for three to four days,” said Olaoti Omowunmi, a banker in Alapere.
A teacher, Idris Ayeni, said installing a borehole solved his problem. “Making a borehole has been the best decision I made for my water supply. The water is good to drink and has saved me a lot of money. I no longer buy sachet water because my borehole water is suitable for drinking,” he said.
Officials say work is under way to boost Lagos’s public water. “I am pleased to announce a significant increase in water production from Iju and Adiyan Waterworks,” Engr. Mukhtaar Tijani of the Lagos State Water Corporation said after recent upgrades.
Power outages and old pipes also harm supply, the stories show. Distribution companies have carried out planned maintenance that sometimes cuts electricity, which in turn stops many household pumps and makes the water problem worse.
The state government and water agency say they are fixing plants and pipelines. They have asked residents to report leaks and to be patient while crews finish repairs.
