185 groups write Ambode to stop PPP in water sector
GOVERNOR AMBODE IS A HUMAN BEING AND AT THE RIGHT TIME IT IS EXPECTED THAT HE WILL LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF REASONS ON THE MATTER
The aversion of the public against plans by the Lagos State
government to embark on Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the water sector is
gathering momentum as 185 national and global organisations this week wrote to
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode asking him to stop the plans and instead commit to
democratically-controlled water systems that the people can have a say in.
Several key government functionaries in the Lagos State government
were copied in the letter. They include the Lagos Commissioner for Environment,
Dr. Samuel Babatunde Adejare, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt.
Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, and Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Lagos
State House of Assembly Hon. Dayo Saka Fafunmi.
The groups led by the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the
Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), expressed aversion to the Lagos State Water
Corporation pursuing multiple concessions and other corporate contracts,
including a 25-year concession for the Adiyan II project, and a PPP for the
Odomola project.
According to them, experiences in cities around the world show
that PPPs and other privatization contracts often bring unexpected costs for
cities, raise rates for consumers, and produce labor violations and
infrastructure neglect.
They therefore urged the Lagos government to withdraw current
efforts to secure corporate concessions and contracts in the water sector, and
commit to public funding of water and ensure robust and accountable democratic
process for implementing any legislation relating to water and sanitation.
The groups said they are eager to see the Ambode administration
commit to ensuring the human right to water through a democratic, public system
which will not only ensure all Lagosians can access clean, safe water but will
also set an example for governments around the world.
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