By BENJAMIN OMOIKE
The Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO), is scheduled to deliver a report on the Socio-Economic and health impact of groundwater pollution in Ejigbo, Lagos State, at an international conference scheduled to hold in Paris, France between May 18 and 20, 2022.
The conference, with the theme: ‘Groundwater: Key To Sustainable Development Goals’, is specifically organised by the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) of UNESCO in partnership with the French Water Agency to advance conversations on how to ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all in line with Goal 6 of the SDG.
Executive Secretary of LASWARCO, Mrs Funke Adepoju, who is leading the Commission’s team to the conference, said the report was chosen ahead of other entries from across the world, and that the study was prepared by the Lagos State Government, through the Commission on socio-economic and health impacts of groundwater pollution from petroleum products on the residents as evidenced by the lamentations of the residents in a national daily last year.
This situation, according to Adepoju, also presents itself in the Baruwa area of Lagos state.
“As a Commission, all activities that impact on groundwater quality are of interest to the Commission as enabled by law. The priority of the Babajide Sanwo -Olu’s administration is to ensure that residents of Lagos State have access to clean water in line with its T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda and SDG 6. This is why we have put measures in place to regulate the sector in line with global best practices.
“It is gratifying that the international community is taking note of the government’s effort at regulatory reforms and impacts championed by the Commission and I must say that this scheduled presentation on the world stage represents a part of the solution architecture opportunities to these affected areas, “Adepoju said.
Also, Adepoju has been invited to participate in the VIP (invitation-only) Global Water Leaders’ Summit scheduled to be held in Madrid, Spain between May 16 and 18, 2022, The Trumpet gathered.
Giving details, Adepoju said the summit is a high-level meeting of global water leaders that brings together water leaders from around the world and high-level representatives from development agencies, and financial institutions including the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank, German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the KWF to explore how they can better collaborate to improve water performance and access to water in relation to climate change.
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“The global water leaders group is a CEO-level organisation with the mission to create a better story for water by bringing together water leaders from the water sector, utility directors, regulators, and water ministers to focus on the world’s water challenge, facilitating vital partnerships across the sector which will help shape the way the world values water now and in the future.
“The meeting will look at peer-to-peer collaboration for delivering bankability via the urban water catalyst fund and for going from good to great. It is a huge opportunity for all those involved in the delivery of SDG 6 for water and sanitation, ending with “how do we move ahead from here,” she said.
Also expected at the Summit are the CEOs of International Water Bank, Rashad Shawa, Former Minister, Water and Climate, Morocco, Charafat Afailal, CEO, Zambia Regulatory Agency, Manilla Water Regulatory Office, Empressa de Services Publicos Colombia, Leonardo Vargas, Guillermo Maisch Water and Wastewater Services, Tunisia to mention a few.
