Lagos Water Corporation faces modernization push and local opposition

The Lagos Water Corporation (LWC) is undergoing a major rehabilitation and modernization drive to address infrastructure challenges and rising urban demand. Under Managing Director Mukhtaar Tijani, the corporation is working to revive dormant waterworks and modernize distribution networks. This effort recently earned LWC international recognition from the International Water Association (IWA) Climate Smart Utilities Recognition Programme in Glasgow for its focus on climate adaptation and greenhouse-gas mitigation.

However, the corporation’s implementation of prepaid water meters has faced significant opposition from local communities and activists. Residents in areas such as Baruwa have rejected the metering system, citing unreliable supply and financial burdens. Critics, including the organization Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), argue that the prepaid model creates barriers to an essential resource, noting that water is only pumped a few times a week and supply is often interrupted by electricity shortages or meter recharging issues.