As cholera cases continue to rise, with the Kirikiri Prison in Lagos recording 25 cases, some Lagos residents have decried poor access to clean public water and are calling on the Lagos State Water Corporation to improve its services.
They expressed their concerns about being susceptible to cholera in the absence of clean water, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos on Sunday.
The residents spoke against the background of recent claim that the LWC is the safest source of water supply because it conforms with the World Health Organisation’s standards.
The residents lamented that they have always relied on boreholes for many years because the state’s public water system had not been working, thus, exposing them to waterborne diseases.
A resident of Egbeda in the Alimosho Local Government Area, Mrs Abimbola Oloyede, said public water had not been functioning in the place for long.
She said, “I don’t use public water in my area. The unavailability of public water increased household expenditure as we have to now buy sachet water for drinking and also borehole water in gallons for other domestic use.
“This adds an extra financial burden on the residents who are struggling already and poses environmental challenges as the environment is littered with sachet water”.
Oloyede called on the Lagos State Water Corporation to ensure the availability of public water to make access to clean and safe drinking water a reality for residents.
Another resident in the Ikorodu area, Mrs Bolaji Adesewa, also said that the LWC had not been working in the area for many years.
“We all have boreholes that we depend on. Even though we can’t drink from them, we use it for domestic use.
“We are also careful of the water we drink because of the cholera outbreak in town. The LWC should act fast so we can enjoy potable water in Ikorodu.
“Water scarcity is also challenge the ability of the residents to keep up with sanitation and healthy living habits,” she lamented.
A resident of Lekki, Lagos Island, Mr Ayo Musari, lamented that he had not seen any sign of public water supply by the LWC since he moved into the area.
“I buy water to drink, which is expensive. And you know that we need to be very careful because of the cholera outbreak in town.
“The LWC needs to be well-funded to function as expected in terms of water delivery. With this, everyone will have access to safe and potable water, free from contamination,” he said.
NAN