By Musa Adamu
Abuja
The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has carpeted the Lagos state government over its 2016 budgetary allocation to the water sector.
The group, in a statement, noting that the current allocation to the sector smacks of seriousness in ensuring equitable access to water by all Lagos residents.
The Lagos state government allocates N17.6 billion out of a total of N662.6 billion to water provision in its 2016.
But the group said the allocation represents a mere 2.7% of the total.
It said: “Environment received 8.1 percent totaling N53,043,599,505, Housing and community amenities got N62,713,091,867 representing 9.46 percent, while Health received N64,677,679,096 representing 9.76 percent.
“Recreation, Culture and Religion got N4,636,917, 054 which is 0.70 percent.”
It said in spite of the budget improvement compared with previous years, the allocation to water was “a pittance” and does not reflect the governor’s description of the entire package as “the peoples budget.”
Deputy Director, ERA/FoEN, Akinbode Oluwafemi said: “We have said it time and again that the Lagos state government is not using the maximum available resources in the state to realise the human right to water.
The allocation to water is not impressive and does not reflect the yearnings of the people for more allocation to the sector.”
“With a daily internally-generated revenue hitting about N1 billion we find it disappointing that the allocation to water is a pittance paling in significance when viewed from the prism that safe and potable water guarantees the wellness of the people and overall security once people have access.”
He said the solution to lack of access was not handing of infrastructure built with public funds to privatisers who were only interested in profits, but a sustained investment in the water sector over time and recovery of funds that may have been misappropriated or outrightly stolen by managers of our water works in the past.
“Our recommendation for improving access to water includes integrating broad public participation in developing plans to achieve universal access to clean water and building the political will to prioritise water for the people. These will lead to a comprehensive plan that invests in the water infrastructure necessary to provide universal water access, create jobs, improve public health, and invigorate the Lagos economy.
