Exploring New Pathways for Sustainable Water, Sanitation Financing in Lagos

Funmi Ogundare writes that the 2024 Lagos International Water Conference (LIWAC), held recently , focused on enabling experts in the water and sanitation sector to explore new pathways for financing and implementing sustainable solutions, as well as ensuring an effective WASH systems and services.

For two days, stakeholders converged on Eko Hotels and Suites for the 2024 Lagos International Water Conference. The event aimed to develop innovative financing models to achieve sustainable water and sanitation solutions. It focused on creating a comprehensive Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) framework that includes private service providers and harnesses local private investment through targeted Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models. The conference also aimed to foster collaboration and partnerships to ensure effective implementation of these strategies. The theme of the programme was, ‘Financing Water and Sanitation for a Greater Lagos’.
Funke Adepoju, Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, (LASWARCO), stated that the conference would provide actionable strategies to contribute to the broader goals of WASH in Lagos. She highlighted the importance of securing adequate financial resources to support and enhance water and sanitation infrastructure in the rapidly growing city. She emphasized that a robust and effective regulatory framework is crucial for realising the objectives of the conference, noting the need for high-level political support and a pragmatic regulatory approach.
Adepoju explained that the conference’s objective was to deliberate on innovative financing models and strategies, essential for achieving sustainable development in the water and sanitation sector.
” At this point, it is essential to note that the nature of the water and sanitation sector requires implementing a pragmatic regulatory framework with high-level political championship and support.
“This provides the enabling framework, credibility and certainty to a sector in dire need of more resources from both the public and private sectors and, perhaps significantly, an assurance of better and effective use of the existing resources”, she stated.
The objective Adepoju explained, was to deliberate on innovative financing models and strategies, adding,” these conversations are crucial and intentional for the administration as we seek to achieve sustainable development in the water and sanitation sector and ensure that every resident of Lagos has access to these essential services.”
She recalled her office’s focus over the years on advocating for adequate budgetary provisions for the WASH sector, institutional strengthening, and promoting private sector involvement as critical strategies.
Tokunbo Wahab, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, emphasised that the forum would enable participants to explore new avenues for financing, identify best practices, and build partnerships to address water governance issues. He noted that the conference would serve as a platform to share knowledge and explore innovative solutions for sustainable water management in Lagos. Wahab stressed the importance of adequate financing to improve water infrastructure, conservation, and resilience in the face of climate change and other challenges.
He urged stakeholders to ensure that actions are inclusive, participatory, and equitable, leaving no one behind in the pursuit of water security.
The Special Guest of Honour and Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, highlighted the need for concerted efforts and innovative solutions to address water resources and sanitation challenges in Lagos. He commended the Lagos State Government for its consistency in convening experts to seek experience-based solutions for financing the Water and Sanitation sector. Utsev noted that a mix of financing options is critical for infrastructure development, as many residents rely on informal water sources leading to waterborne diseases.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stressed the need for stakeholders in the water resources sector to move beyond discussions and invest in providing residents with good and hygienic water. He called for an end to the era of talking without actions, emphasising that the conference should lead to practical solutions to the state’s water resources challenges.
Sanwo-Olu reiterated the state government’s commitment to fostering partnerships, leveraging community engagement, and international alliances to achieve water management, financing, and sanitation efforts in Lagos.
USAID Country Director, Evelyn Mere, announced the introduction of the “Resilient Water Accelerator” and the proposed Lagos Water Partnership (LWP) before the end of the year. She explained that the intervention aims to mobilise finance for a water-resilient future in Lagos and attract investments targeted at climate-vulnerable and water-stressed communities. Mere highlighted the recent cholera outbreak as a stark reminder of the urgent need for access to safe water, good sanitation, and empowering people to practice good hygiene.
She emphasized the importance of effective WASH systems and services to eradicate such menaces, pledging WaterAid’s support for post-conference action planning to ensure tangible and measurable benefits from each successive conference.
“It is for his reason that WaterAid always seeks to support post-conference action planning to promote the implementation of key recommendations from each successive conference. This is to ensure that, year-on-year, the successes of the LIWACs are tangible and deliver measurable good to the people
“This will mean that we demonstrate that many more households are connected to pipe-borne water, many more communities become open defecation free, that urban centres have wastes properly managed so they do not pollute the environment and constitutes a threat to public health, that many more hospitals and public places have safe, inclusive and sustainable sanitation facilities, and that many more girls can go to school because adequate WASH facilities ensure that they are able to manage their menstrual cycles with dignity,” Mere stressed.