Sanmi Olowosile, Chairman of the Sustainable Green Environment Initiative, has emphasised that the government has an absolute responsibility to provide clean, safe drinking water.
Speaking on News Central TV’s Breakfast Central programme on Monday, Olowosile addressed the recent controversy surrounding sachet water availability in Lagos State, linking it to a broader issue of governmental failure to deliver essential public services.
He clarified that the rumoured ban on sachet water sales was unfounded, attributing disruptions in supply to a strike by water producers’ associations.
The strike, according to Olowosile, stemmed from disputes over the imposition of additional costs on producers, including a N100,000 annual fee for vehicle stickers.
This financial burden, he explained, led to a spike in sachet water prices and unrest among producers.
“It’s obvious now,” Olowosile said, “the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has denied involvement, and so has NAFDAC. This leaves the actions entirely within the domain of the associations. Unfortunately, these disruptions directly impact citizens’ access to potable water—a basic necessity.”
Olowosile argued that the government has no excuse for failing to ensure the availability of clean water, stating;
“It is 100% the government’s responsibility to provide potable water for its citizenry. We pay taxes for essential services, and water is a critical one. How do you expect individuals to live without water?”
He criticised the Lagos State Government for what he described as neglect of its duty, pointing out that residents are left with no choice but to depend on private producers. He stressed that while individuals may choose to supplement their water supply, the primary burden of ensuring access to potable water lies with the government.
The recent sachet water scarcity pointed to the vulnerability of millions who rely on it for daily needs.
“For two or three days, citizens endured immense difficulty due to the lack of potable water. It is unacceptable in a state that should be leading in public service delivery,” he concluded.
