LASG CONDEMNS REPORT ON PARTNERING WITH ?FAILED? FOREIGN FIRMS

The Lagos State Government has condemned recent reports published in the Premium Times Newspaper, 9th August, 2017 titled ?Lagos Govt. partnering ?failed foreign firms on Water sector? and in the Guardian Newspaper, of Thursday 10th August, 2017, titled ?Activist allege lack of transparency in Lagos water sector reforms??.

Describing the publications as blatant falsehood, the Managing Director/ CEO, Lagos Water Corporation, Engr. Muminu Adekunle Badmus said, LWC shortlisted firms with proven track records and records of contract accomplishment all over the world for Adiyan II Project, leading to shortlist of AG Gold Trust Nigeria Limited, Vision Scape Water Solutions Limited / Metito, Veolia / Shoreline Group and Abegoa, Naston & Partners.

Engr. Badmus challenged the author of the publication to reveal any false project executing by the shortlisted firms anywhere in the world.

We wish to recall that, earlier this year; the Lagos Sate Government released a statement disassociating itself from a similar false, insidious and odious report published in the Punch Newspaper, of Thursday 8th June, 2017, titled ?Three firms bid for Lagos Water Project?. In the response it was stated that the Corporation published an Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the development of the 70MGD Adiyan Phase II Water Scheme through Public – Private Partnership in three national dailies namely, the Punch, the Guardian, the Nation (published January 12, 2017), and Global Water Intelligence, an internationally reputable water sector publication, based on which the above mentioned firms were shortlisted out of seven that indicated interest.

The true situation is that these firms are highly ranked among the 25 leading firms privately financed water/wastewater treatment plants around the world, in a study undertaken by Global Water Intelligence (GWI) in 2016.

We totally condemn the campaign of calumny, misinformation and fabrication of lies against the honest and genuine efforts of the LWC under the leadership of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to sustainably solve the water challenges in Lagos.

For the avoidance of doubt World Bank is not involved in this project by material particular.

He stated that the PPP model employed in Lagos Water Corporation is one of the veritable options as well as to obtain additional funding in view of dwindling revenues, to meet the water demand gap as result of ever increasing Lagos population.

?The present administration of His Excellency, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode is committed to the provision of potable water and will continuously give Lagos Water Corporation, necessary support to deliver on this important responsibility of providing potable water in sufficient quantity to Lagosians??.

Thank you.

Anifowoshe Rasaq O.
For: Head, Corporate Communications
Lagos Water Corporation