World Water-Tech Innovation Summit 2020: BADMUS, OTHER WATER UTILITY LEADERS OFFER SOLUTIONS TO CHALLENGES OF EXTREME FLOODING EVENTS

CENTRAL LONDON, UK. – Lagos Water Corporation Managing Director/CEO, Engr. Muminu Adekunle Badmus has joined other utility leaders across the globe to proffered solutions to the challenges of extreme flooding event.

This was revealed during the World Water-Tech Innovation Summit 2020, held in Central London between 25th – 26th February, 2020.

During a half-day, in-depth seminar and workshop programme exploring the question on how cities can best address the challenges of extreme flooding and climate change.

The LWC boss while sharing knowledge on the current state in the cities he has experience, he stated that increase in population, urbanisation and the effect of climate change, has rather put a lot of stress on the limited infrastructure. With reference to the population of Lagos over 22 million with over 1000 entering the city on a daily basis.

The LWC boss added that the major gaps include, lack of drainage infrastructure, lack of maintenance of drainage infrastructure, compromising of wetlands, people building along the wetland coupled with the low water table of Lagos.

“We need to have proper drainages, ensure the drainages are always cleared, have storm water passages/reservoirs, amongst other”.

Adding that the use of data, satellites and sensor technology are very helpful in tackling floods as they provide historical risk and new direction.

Help in planning for scaling up. “Our priorities would include the implementation of the drainage master plan and capacity development”, he stated.

Raising suggestions on scaling up, concerning recognition and taking advantages of social/cultural differences. He however, suggested that, though there is social/cultural differences, that is where domestication and adaptation must come in.

“We must recognize this differences will always be there but we will always adapt. Referring to some culture, Engr. Badmus said people shy away from drinking water that has been recycled, but we can always channel this to other acceptable uses such as agriculture, amongst other, he concluded.

The summit brought together over 300 water leaders (start-ups, tech giants, operators and investors) for two days of collaboration, dialogue and deal-making.

Each year the World Water-Tech Innovation Summit is produced in partnership with the UK Department for International Trade and attracts large delegations from Europe, Asia, North America, South America, the Middle East, Africa and Australasia who come to showcase best-in-class innovation and form lasting business partnerships.