The Ogun State Government has warned residents, especially contractors working around communities in the state, against damaging water infrastructure. It said it would arrest and prosecute such individuals.
Ogun State Water Corporation (OSWC) condemned deliberate attempts by some residents to destroy basic water infrastructure, accusing contractors of destroying pipes along the road during construction without making efforts to replace them.
The warning was given in a statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Water Resources, Damilola Otubanjo.
She said the corporation was battling aged and deteriorating facilities without replacement by successive administrations.
The corporation promised to rehabilitate and upgrade the infrastructures, to improve the quality of water supply to the residents, lamenting that the efforts were being frustrated by constant damage to its facilities.
“As we are fully committed to rehabilitating and upgrading our water supply network, one pipe at a time, our efforts to enhance the water sector and ensure provision of potable water to the residents of Ogun State are being hampered by the insensitive activities of road contractors.
“These contractors, driven solely by the urgency of road construction, frequently damage our underground pipeline networks with little regard for the consequences of their actions.
“This persistent and avoidable damage has contributed to the rise in Non-Revenue Water (NRW), leading to substantial losses in resources, increased operational costs and a decline in service efficiency.
“The repercussions of these avoidable infrastructure damages include a high volume of wasted treated water, with bursts and leaks resulting in a massive loss of water that has already undergone rigorous treatment, causing unnecessary depletion of our limited resources.
“Also, there are escalating repair costs, as frequent damage to pipelines imposes a heavy financial burden on the state Water Corporation, diverting funds that can otherwise be used for infrastructure upgrades and service improvements; increased risk of contamination, as broken pipes expose treated water to external contaminants, posing health hazards to the residents.
“There are disruptions in water supply, as burst pipes lead to service interruptions, depriving communities of access to clean and safe drinking water, and loss of revenue, with damaged pipes resulting in financial losses due to wasted resources and uncollected water revenue.
“Reputational damage to the state Water Corporation – Service disruptions and inefficiencies caused by these damages create a false perception of negligence on the part of the corporation, thereby eroding public confidence in our ability to provide essential services.”
