Group Accuses Water Corporation for misappropriation of N5bn In Lagos

The Groups under the agies of Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees (AUPCTRE) as well as Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) and the Joint Action Front (JAF) have called on the federal government of Nigerian (FGN) and other anti- graft agencies to investigate the misappropriation of public fund worth over N5billion naira spent on awarded contracts on water projects and others expenses inccured by the management of Water Corperation in Lagos State. 

The group disclosed these figures public during a press briefing while reacting on the unlawful sacked of 400 staff by the management led by Engineer Tijani Mukhtar, on the allegations that the staff were redundant.

They said that all allocation and vote by government from 2007 to 2024 should be thoroughly investigated and probe accordingly.

According to the group through the National President of AUPCTRE, Comrade, Benjamin Anthony, stated that in year 2007 the Lagos State Government voted sum of N4 billion for construction of Otta-Ikosi waterworks and up till date no work was done and while In 2010 N3 billion was expended on the construction of an Independent Power Plant (IPP) which also included an additional N180 million expended monthly on fueling the IPP.and the facility only worked for 3 years”

“Also in year 2018 about N897m was released by the Lagos State government for rehabilitation of Iju and Adiyan Waterworks”

“Same 2018 the sum of N789m was released by the Government for rehabilitation of Mini and Micro waterworks across Lagos and no contractors got the contracts and how were they selected and why is there no water in the localities where the mini and micro waterworks that made none of the projects work. Does it have anything to do with staff? No”

The President stated further that between since 2022 and now a whooping N2.7bn was voted by the Lagos State Government and expended on the rehabilitation of Ishasi waterworks supervised by Mr. Governor. No result.

He said that the budget for purchase of chemical for year 2023 was N950 million yet there was nothing to show in terms of water production that year, adding that the sum of N315 million was paid as 50% advanced payment to contractor for the supply of liquid alum in October 2023 which is yet to be supplied as of today.

He added that the budget for chemical in 2024 is N1.2 billion confidently but sadly inform you that production of water since the beginning of the year has been nil.

“The Lagos government released N9.5 million for repair of chemical store gate at Iju and Adiyan. What is the status?”

“Similarly the construction of falling fence at Apapa waterworks was put at N7.3 million”

When our correspondent contacted the agency’s Information Officer, Mrs Kehinde Fashola, stated that allegations of misappropriation of the sum N5bn on cooperation might have happened before she came onboard and that she can not say anything on that.

She added that the issue of sack was the decision of the state government

“ The government only paid salary to staff who are not committed to work, no place in Lagos state that is enjoying public running water and they are just for nothing sake”

 “Government cannot continue to waist the state resources and that’s why they were laid off” Fashola said.