Keep your promise on halting water privatisation, ERA/FoEN urges Ambode

Keep your promise on halting water privatisation, ERA/FoEN urges Ambode 

Keep your promise on halting water privatisation, ERA/FoEN urges Ambode


 
AMBODE IS WARNED NOT TO PRIVATIZE WATER IN LAGOS

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has congratulated Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his victory at the just-concluded gubernatorial elections in Lagos, urging him to live up to his electoral promises when he assumes office, particularly the immediate reversal of the planned privatisation of water in Lagos.

Ambode won the elections held on April 11, 2015, beating his closest rival, Mr. Jimi Agbaje of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to clinch the governorship slot in one of the most keenly contested elections in Lagos’ history.

Ina statement issued in Lagos, ERA/FoEN said the emergence of Ambode is manifestation of the wishes of the electorate who cast their votes in the hope that the governor-elect will sustain the enviable pace of development the state has enjoyed in the last 16 years of democratic rule.

ERA/FoEN Director, Corporate Accountability & Administration, Akinbode Oluwafemi said: “We join Lagos residents in congratulating Ambode for the mandate he has received to steer the affairs of the state for the next four years. We urge him at this point to rally all critical stakeholders to implement policies that will not only alleviate the sufferings of the people but also improve the revenue base of the state”

Oluwafemi said that it was pertinent at this point to remind the governor-elect of his electoral promise while hosting critical stakeholders including workers in the water unions that he will not add to the burden of Lagosians through water privatisation.

 “While we trust the governor-elect to push through in halting privatisation under the failed public Private Partnership (PPP) model, we are deeply worried that the Lagos State Water Corporation (LSWC), with the support of the World Bank, is still pushing very hard for privatization of water which will disenfranchise millions of Lagos residents”



He stressed that despite popular opposition to the thoroughly discredited PPP,  the LSWC has now put out a bid for so-called contractors to commence a process which will also include pre-paid meters. 



Oluwafemi said that for ERA/FoEN the PPP promoted by LSWC has failed in Nagpur,Manila and other cities of the world where the in-thing is now a take-back of privatised water corporations as was demonstrated in the divestment of Veolia from public water in Paris.



He asked the governor-elect to now clearly state his position on the issue of water privatization in Lagos state,requesting him to oppose the PPP water privatization scheme and rather strengthen the public water system for optimal performance.

 “While we congratulate Mr. Ambode for his victory, its time to work the talk by guaranteeing universal access to water by Lagos residents. We demand a halt to the dangerous PPP. Remunicipalisation isthe way to go. There is no other alternative.” Oluwafemi insisted.

Philip Jakpor

Head of Media