Water as human right

Water is not a commodity. It is a human right.

“Water is not a commodity. It is a human right.”

Lagos water privatisation warning

Rufus Olusesan, president of PERESSA, warned that private operators could prioritize profitable areas over underserved communities like Ajegunle and Makoko.

Budget allocation call

Olusesan urged Lagos State Government to allocate at least five per cent of its annual budget to water infrastructure, noting current allocation is less than one per cent.

Water infrastructure needs

Olusesan called for rehabilitation of Iju, Adiyan and Ishasi waterworks, completion of Adiyan II project, and investigations into contractors failing to deliver water projects.

Global water crisis

The coalition cited global figures showing 2.1 billion people lacked safely managed drinking water in 2024, while 3.4 billion lacked safely managed sanitation.

Poverty penalty

Low-income households relying on vendors could pay between 10 and 20 times more per unit of water than households connected to public networks.

Water privatisation risks

Commercial tariffs, concessions, public-private partnerships and prepaid water meters could worsen inequality if access depends on households' ability to pay.

Private sector concerns

The coalition cited a 2025 Global Witness investigation into Veolia's landfill in Colombia and concerns about Veolia's operations in Gabon and Suez's involvement in Senegal's urban water system.

Opposition to privatisation

The Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations opposed Lagos State Government's plan to operate waterworks through a public-private partnership arrangement.

Worker dismissals

The Lagos Water Corporation reportedly disengaged over 800 workers in 2024, with unions alleging the move was to make the corporation more attractive to investors.

Water board proposal

Olusesan proposed a water board comprising government representatives, workers, community groups and civil society organisations to publish quarterly budgets for transparency.

Africa Water Vision 2063

OWORAC proposed a continental financing benchmark for water and sanitation, supported by national funding targets and transparent reporting.

Water as human right

Olusesan called for legislation recognising access to water as a human right and prohibiting water privatisation.

2026 water conference

The African Union marked 2026 as the Year of Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063.

Public water for all

OWORAC urged African governments to use the Africa Water Vision 2063 and the 2026 United Nations Water Conference to advance public financing and strengthen community participation in water governance.